Lok Sabha Question No. 1368 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-06
Subject: Shortage of Medical Staffs in Kerala
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Benny Behanan

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRY OFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1368 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2026

## SHORTAGE OF MEDICALSTAFFS IN KERALA

## 1368. SHRI BENNY BEHANAN:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the shortage of doctors, nurses and specialists in Government hospitals across the country, State/UT-wise, particularly in Kerala;
- (b) the details of vacancies in Government health institutions across the country, State-wise and category-wise; and
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to fill these vacancies and strengthen public healthcare delivery in the country?

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

(a) to (c): The details regarding doctors, nurses and specialists and their vacancies in Government hospitals across the country including Kerala, at the healthcare facilities across the country can be accessed at the following link of HDI 2022-23:

https://mohfw.gov.in/sites/default/files/Health%20Dynamics%20of%20India%20%28Infrastruct ur e%20%26%20Human%20Resources%29%202022-23\_RE%20%281%29.pdf

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides technical and financial support to the States/UTs including Kerala to strengthen the public healthcare delivery system, based on the proposals received in the form of Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) under National Health Mission. Government of India provides approval for the proposal in the form of Record of Proceedings (RoPs) as per norms & available resources. Details of the approvals given for the strengthening healthcare in rural areas of the country are available at website of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare at the Uniform Resources Locator (URL) as under:

## https://nhm.gov.in/index1.php?lang=1&level=1&sublinkid=1377&lid=744

The primary responsibility of strengthening public healthcare system, including filling up of the vacancies in in healthcare facilities lies with the respective State/UT Governments. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides technical and financial support to the States/UTs to strengthen the public healthcare system in rural areas based on the proposals received in the form of Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) under National Health Mission. Government of India provides approval for the proposal in the form of Record of Proceedings (RoPs) as per norms & available resources. States/ UTs to ensure availability of HR by creating adequate number of regular posts as per the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) in the long run and using NHM posts in the short to medium term to fill critical gaps. The NHM supplements the regular human resources by filling up the gaps in human resources in secondary and primary care facilities (District Hospital and below) as per IPHS.

Under NHM, following types of incentives and honorarium are provided for encouraging doctors and paramedics to practice in rural and remote areas of the country including Kerala to address the shortage of staff:

-  Hard area allowance to specialist doctors for serving in rural and remote areas and for their residential quarters so that they find it attractive to serve in public health facilities in such areas.
-  Honorarium to Gynecologists/ Emergency Obstetric Care (EmOC) trained, Pediatricians & Anesthetist/ Life Saving Anaesthesia Skills (LSAS) trained doctors is also provided to increase availability of specialists for conducting Cesarean Sections in rural & remote area.
-  Incentives like special incentives for doctors, incentive for Auxiliary Nurse and Midwife (ANM) for ensuring timely Antenatal Checkup (ANC) checkup and recording, incentives for conducting Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health activities.
-  States are also allowed to offer negotiable salary to attract specialist including flexibility in strategies such as 'You Quote We Pay'.
-  Non-Monetary incentives such as preferential admission in post graduate courses for staff serving in difficult areas and improving accommodation arrangement in rural areas have also been introduced under NHM.
-  Multi-skilling of doctors is supported under NHM to overcome the shortage of specialists. Skill upgradation of existing HR is another major strategy under NRHM for achieving improvement in health outcomes.

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