Lok Sabha Question No. 1014 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-05
Subject: Shortage of Doctors and Specialists in Assam
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Md. Rakibul Hussain

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1014 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05 TH DECEMBER 2025

## SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS AND SPECIALISTS IN ASSAM

## 1014. MD. RAKIBULHUSSAIN:

Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the State of Assam is facing a shortage of doctors and specialists;
- (b) if so, the details thereof
- (c) whether a faculty recruitment for the newly Sanctioned Medical College has been initiated in the said State, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to solve the issue of such shortage in the State?

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

- (a) and (b): The primary responsibility of strengthening the public healthcare system lies with the respective State Governments. However, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides technical and financial support to the States/UTs to strengthen the public healthcare 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.

The State of Assam has been working towards upgrading the health facilities in the State and the Status of Specialist & Doctors (PHCs, CHCs, SDHs & DHs) is detailed below:

|            |   Sanctioned posts |   In position Regular+ Contractual |
|------------|--------------------|------------------------------------|
| Specialist |               1132 |                               1135 |
| MOMBBS     |               3406 |                               3434 |

The state of Assam has adequate number of specialists and medical officers posted against the sanctioned posts.

## (c): The details of Faculty positions at AIIMS Guwahati is as under:

Sanctioned posts Filled Posts Vacant posts:

|   Sanctioned posts |   In- position |   Vacant |
|--------------------|----------------|----------|
|                183 |            116 |       67 |

Creation of posts & recruitment is a continuous process. Filling up of vacant positions is contingent on various factors including availability of eligible, qualified doctors/health professionals, reservation roster etc.

(d): The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has taken several policy-level measures to address the vacancy and shortage of healthcare professionals in the country. National Health Mission continues to provide immediate and medium-term need-based support to the states to strengthen the public health systems by filling the gaps in human resources in secondary and primary care facilities (District hospitals and below) as per Indian Public Health Standards. To further improve the HRH availability to support service delivery in rural and remote areas, various flexibility has been provided under NHM. These provisions can be utilized by all the states/ UTs and propose budgetary support in their annual Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) based on their specific needs and available resource envelope.

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