Lok Sabha Question No. 701 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-26
Subject: Shortage of Doctors and Health Workers
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Brijmohan Agrawal

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 701 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26th July, 2024

## SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS AND HEALTH WORKERS

## 701. SHRI BRIJMOHAN AGRAWAL:

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

- (a) whether the Government has fixed any criteria for having sufficient number of doctors to ensure better health facilities to each citizen of the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise;
- (c) whether the Government has formulated any scheme for resolving the problems of lack of health facilities, doctors and health workers in the rural areas of the country, including Chhattisgarh; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken in this regard?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYAPATEL)

(a) to (d): As per information provided by National Medical Commission (NMC), there are 13,86,136 allopathic doctors registered with the State Medical Councils and the National Medical Commission (NMC) as on July, 2024. Assuming 80% availability of registered allopathic doctors and around 5.65 lakh AYUSH doctors, the doctor-population ratio in the country is around 1:836 which is better than the WHO standard of 1:1000. Further, as per Indian Nursing Council, there are around 38.49 lakh registered nursing personnel in the country.

The government has increased number of medical colleges and subsequently increased MBBS seats. There is an increase of 88% in Medical Colleges from 387 before 2014 to 731 as of now. Further, there is an increase of 118% in MBBS seats from 51,348 before 2014 to 1,12,112 as of now and increase of 133% in PG seats from 31,185 before 2014 to 72,627 as of now.

The measures/steps taken by the Government to increase the doctor/medical professional in the country include:-

-  Centrally Sponsored Scheme for establishment of new medical college by upgrading district/ referral hospital under which 109 new medical colleges are already functional out of 157 approved medical colleges which includes five medical colleges in the State Chhattisgarh.
-  Centrally Sponsored Scheme for strengthening/ upgradation of existing State Government/Central Government Medical Colleges to increase MBBS and PG seats.
-  Under 'Upgradation of Government Medical Colleges by construction of Super Specialty Blocks' of Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) scheme, a total of 75 projects have been approved, of which 66 projects are complete.
-  Under the Central Sector Scheme for setting up of new AIIMS, 22 AIIMS have been approved. Undergraduate courses have started in 19 of these.
-  DNB qualification has been recognized for appointment as faculty to take care of shortage of faculty.
-  Enhancement of age limit for appointment/ extension/ re-employment against posts of teachers/Dean/Principal/ Director in medical colleges upto 70 years.

To increase the nursing personnel in the country, the Government has announced, in the budget speech 2023-24, establishment of 157 nursing colleges in the country including 5 nursing colleges in the State of Chhattisgarh.

Under National Health Mission, through Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM), comprehensive primary healthcare is provided by strengthening Sub Health Centres (SHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs). These Ayushman Arogya Mandir provide preventive, promotive, rehabilitative and curative care for an expanded range of services encompassing reproductive and child healthcare services, Communicable diseases, Non-communicable diseases and other health issues. As reported by the States/UTs on the AAM portal, 1,73,410 Ayushman Arogya Mandir have been operationalized in rural and urban areas till 30th June, 2024.

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