Lok Sabha Question No. 198 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-02
Subject: Shortage of Health Professional
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Mala Roy

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 198 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 2 nd February, 2024

## SHORTAGE OFHEALTH PROFESSIONAL

## 198. SHRIMATI MALA ROY:

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

- (a) whether there is huge and acute shortage of health professionals in the country;
- (b) if so, the present strength of doctors, nurses and paramedical staff both in Government and private hospitals and vacancies therein, State/UT-wise;
- (c) the proposals of the Government to train and create experienced hospital personnels within the limited resources to fulfil the demand therefor; and
- (d) whether the Government has made any special training module programme to replace health professionals who are on verge of retirement age at 65 years?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a) to (d): As per information provided by National Medical Commission (NMC), there are 13,08,009 allopathic doctors registered with the State Medical Councils and the National Medical Commission (NMC) as on June, 2022. Assuming 80% availability of registered allopathic doctors and 5.65 lakh AYUSH doctors, the doctor-population ratio in the country is 1:834 which is better than the WHO standard of 1:1000. Also, there are 36.52 lakh Registered Nursing Personnel as on December, 2022, assuming 80% availability, around 29.21 lakh are active nursing personnel and 13 lakh Allied and Healthcare Professionals in the country.

The government has increased number of medical colleges and subsequently increased MBBS seats. There is an increase of 82% in Medical Colleges from 387 before 2014 to 706 as of now.

Further, there is an increase of 112% in MBBS seats from 51,348 before 2014 to 1,08,940 as of now and increase of 127% in PG seats from 31,185 before 2014 to 70,645 as of now.

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

- (i) Centrally Sponsored Scheme for establishment of new medical college by upgrading district/ referral hospital under which 108 new medical colleges are already functional out of 157 approved.
- (ii) Centrally Sponsored Scheme for strengthening/ upgradation of existing State Government/Central Government Medical Colleges to increase MBBS and PG seats.
- (iii) 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 64 projects are complete.
- (iv) Under the Central Sector Scheme for setting up of new AIIMS, 22 AIIMS have been approved. Undergraduate courses have started in 19 of these.
- (v) Relaxation in the norms for setting up of Medical College in terms of requirement for faculty, staff, bed strength and other infrastructure.
- (vi) DNB qualification has been recognized for appointment as faculty to take care of shortage of faculty.
- (vii) Enhancement of age limit for appointment/ extension/ re-employment against posts of teachers/Dean/Principal/ Director in medical colleges upto 70 years.

The Government has also taken the following steps to increase the Nurses in the country:-

- (i) Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for 'Establishment of new Medical College attached with existing district/referral hospital' 157 medical colleges have been approved since 2014. Establishment of 157 nursing colleges have been announced in the budget speech 2023-24 in these medical colleges.
- (ii) For Nursing Educational Programmes Student patient ratio has been relaxed from 1:5 to 1:3.
- (iii) The land requirement for Nursing Educational Institutes from 3 acres has been relaxed to construct building of 54,000 sq. ft. for School/College of Nursing including Hostel.

(iv) To open GNM and B.Sc. (Nursing) programme 100 bedded parent hospital is essential since 2013-2014. However, this is relaxed for hilly and tribal areas.

- (v) Relaxed norms for teaching faculty to start B.Sc. (N) Programme.
- (vi) Super speciality Hospital can start M.Sc. (N) without having under graduate programme.

(vii) Maximum of 100 seats will be granted to the institutions for B.Sc.(N)/GNM programmes which are having parent hospital with 300 beds without insisting on Medical College.

(viii) Distance from school to hospital has been relaxed.

- (ix) Eligibility Criteria for admission to nursing programmes relaxed.

Moreover, National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) Act, 2021 was enacted on 28th March, 2021 for regulating the education and services of the allied and healthcare professionals; assessment and rating of all allied and healthcare institutions to ensure uniform standards and quality assurance; maintenance of Live National and State Registers for registration of all allied and healthcare professionals. The Act provides for constitution of NCAHP and the functions of the Commission includes creation and maintaining an Online and Live Central Register with details of academic qualifications institutions, training, skill and competencies of allied and healthcare professionals related to their professions as specified in the Schedule."

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