Lok Sabha Question No. 2285 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-29
Subject: Shortage of Doctors, Specialists and Nurses
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: MURALI MOHAN MAGANTI, SUNIL KUMAR MONDAL, SAUGATA ROY, RAMESWAR TELI, RAMACHANDRAN MULLAPPALLY, ASHWINI KUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2285 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29 TH JULY, 2016

## SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS, SPECIALISTS AND NURSES

## 2285. SHRI M. MURALI MOHAN:

SHRI SUNIL KUMAR MONDAL:

PROF. SAUGATA ROY:

SHRI RAMESWAR TELI:

SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDRAN:

SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR:

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

(a) whether the Government is aware that there are shortage of doctors, specialists, psychologists and nurses in Government hospitals/healthcare centres particularly in the rural areas;

(b) if so, the details thereof, State/UTwise long ith the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the Government has taken action/proposes to take action to recruit the said health professionals in all the hospitals in the country, if so, the details reof;

(d)  whether  the  Government  proposes to  blend  nursing  courses  with  'Skill  India' training courses, if so, the details thereof; and

(e)  whether the  Government  has  any plan  to  increase  the  number  of  mobile dispensaries including  mobile  boat dispensaries  to  provide  basic  health services  in  the  remote  and inhospitable areas p rticularly the border areas of Assam, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE )

(a) & (b): As  per  Rural  Health  Statistics  (RHS)  2014 - 15,  there  is  shortage  of  doctors, specialists, nurses etc. in Government hospitals/healthcare centres. The Sta te/UT - wise information of Sanctioned and In Position of Doctors, Specialists & Nurses at Primary H Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs), Sub District/Sub Divisional Hospitals a District Hospitals is at Annexure.

Various  reasons  attributed for  shortage  of  doctors/specialists/nurses  in  public  heal facilities, particularly in rural areas include overall shortage of doctors/ specialists/ country, feeling of professional isolation among doctors & specialists, and unwillingness n their part to work in rural areas.

(c) : Public health being a State subject, the primary responsibility to ensure availab health professionals in public health facilities lies with the State Governments. Howeve the National Health Mission (NHM), financial and technical support is provided to States/UTs t strengthen their healthcare systems including support for engagement of health professio contractual  basis,  based  on  the  requirements  posed  by  the  States/UTs  in  their  Progr Implementation  Plans  (PIPs).  Support  is  also  provided  to  States/UTs  by  giving  hard allowance  to  health  human  resources  for  serving  in  rural  and  remote  areas  and  for residential quarters so that they find it attractive to serve in public health faci lities in such areas.

Further, in order to encourage doctors to work in remote and difficult areas, the Council  of  India,  with  the  previous  approval  of  Central  Government,  has  amended  the Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000 to provi de:

- I. 50%  reservation  in  Post  Graduate  Diploma  Courses  for  Medical  Officers  in  th Government  service,  who  have  served  for  at  least  three  years  in  remote  and  diff areas; and
- II. Incentive at the rate of 10% the marks obtained for each year in service in rem difficult areas as upto the maximum of 30% of the marks obtained in the entrance te admissions in Post Graduate Medical Courses.

The Government has taken the follo wing steps to further augment the supply of doctors in the country:

- I. The ratio of teachers to students has been revised from 1:1 to 1:2 for all M disciplines  and  1:1  to  1:3  in  subjects  of  Anaesthesiology,  Forensic  Medic Radiotherapy, Medical Oncolog y, Surgical Oncology and Psychiatry.
- II. DNB  qualification  has  been  recognized  for  appointment  as  faculty  to  take  care shortage of faculty.
- III. Enhancement of maximum intake capacity at MBBS level from 150 to 250.
- IV. Enhancement of age limit for appointment/ext sion/re - mployment against posts of teachers/dean/principal/ director in medical colleges from 65 - 70 years.
- V. Relaxation in the norms for setting up of a medical college in terms of requir for and, faculty, staff, bed/ bed strength and other infrastr uc ure.
- VI. Strengthening/upgradation  of  State  Government  Medical  Colleges  for  starting  ne PG  courses/Increase  of  PG  seats  with  fund  sharing  between  the  Central  and  St Government.
- VII. Establishment  of  New  Medical  Colleges  by  upgrading  district/referral hospitals preferably  in  underserved  districts  of  the  country  with  fund  sharing  between Central Government and States.

Government

- VIII. Strengthening/ upgradation of existing State Government/Central Medical  Colleges  to  increase  MBBS  seats  with  fund  sharing between  the  Central Government and States.
2. (d): Currently, there is no such proposal.

(e): Under NHM, States/UTs have been supported with Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) to provide  services  at  the  doorsteps  of  population  living  in  the  remote  and  hard  to  reac areas, based on the requirements posed by the States/UTs in their PIPs. In 2015 - 16, 50 MMUs and 15 Boat clinics in the riverline and hard to reach areas of Assam were approved under NHM.

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