Lok Sabha Question No. 865 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-07
Subject: Shortage of Medical Professionals
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Isha Khan Choudhury

## GOVERNMENT OFINDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 865 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2025

## SHORTAGE OFMEDICALPROFESSIONALS

## 865 SHRI ISHA KHAN CHOUDHURY:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the fact that hospitals in the country have been facing extreme staff shortages for many years and that hospitals are currently operating with less than one-third of its original staff of 12 permanent doctors and 12 permanent nurses with only 2 permanent doctors and 2 permanent nurses, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to restart the operation theater which is not functioning due to the absence of a surgeon, gynecologist and radiologist;
- (c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to restore USG and ECG services as there are no specialists available to operate these machines;
- (d) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to replace and repair damaged medical equipment and the X-ray machine that requires urgent repair or replacement; and
- (e) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to restore Lab Services as there is no lab technician available for which diagnostic services at the hospital has been severely hampered?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

- (a) to (e) 'Public Health' & 'Hospitals' being State subjects, it is primarily the responsibility of the State Governments to make efforts for availability of adequate staff, functionality of diagnostic services and maintenance of medical equipment in Hospitals.

As far as Central Government Hospitals i.e. Safdarjung Hospital, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College & Associated Hospitals and Rural Health Training Centre, Najafgarh are concerned, the status of sanctioned strength, filled posts and vacant posts of doctors and nurses is at Annexure.

Further, availability of staff for maintenance of healthcare services in these hospitals is a continuous process to meet functional requirements. Operation theaters, USG & ECG services and Lab services in these hospitals are functional as per their requirements. Medical equipment and X-ray machines are under Annual Maintenance Contract with the authorised agents of the concerned manufacturer, who repair non-functional machine as per service agreement.

Details of sanctioned strength, filled posts and vacant posts of Doctors and Nurses

| Nameof Hospital                                                   | Doctors     | Doctors   | Doctors                      | Nurses     | Nurses   | Nurses                       |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------|-----------|------------------------------|------------|----------|------------------------------|
|                                                                   | Sanctione d | Filled    | Vacant                       | Sanctioned | Filled   | Vacant                       |
| Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi                                    | 631         | 459       | 172 (51 filled on contrac t) | 2548       | 2244     | 304 (234 filled on contract) |
| Lady Hardinge Medical College and Associated Hospitals, New Delhi | 383         | 294       | 89                           | 1,182      | 1,003    | 179                          |
| Dr. RamManohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi                          | 412         | 312       | 100                          | 1559       | 1460     | 99                           |
| Rural Health Training Centre, Najafgarh                           | 46          | 26        | 20 (3 outsour ced)           | 46         | 5        | 41 (14 outsourc ed)          |