Lok Sabha Question No. 483 (STARRED), answered on 2026-03-27
Subject: Shortage of Paramedical Staff in PHCs and CHCs
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Rajabhau Parag Prakash Waje

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 483* TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 27 TH MARCH, 2026

## SHORTAGE OFPARAMEDICALSTAFFIN PHCS AND CHCS

## *483. SHRI RAJABHAU PARAG PRAKASH WAJE:

Will the MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken note that there is an acute shortage of doctors, specialists, nurses and paramedical staff in Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs) and Rural and District Hospitals in Nashik Lok Sabha Constituency in Maharashtra, particularly in tribal and remote areas such as Surgana, Trimbakeshwar, Peth and Igatpuri, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether adequate facilities for maternal and child health, immunization, malnutrition control and prevention of water-borne and vector-borne diseases like dengue and malaria are being ensured in these areas, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether Mobile Medical Units, Telemedicine services and Ambulance networks have been strengthened in tribal and hilly regions, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether the Government proposes any special package to upgrade health infrastructure, establish Trauma centres and fill long-pending vacancies in Nashik district and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## (SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)

- (a) to (d) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 483* FOR 27 TH MARCH, 2026

(a) to (d) 'Public Health' & 'Hospitals' are State subjects. The primary responsibility for the availability of doctors, specialists, nurses and paramedical staff in various public health facilities in the country lies with the respective State/UT Governments.

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

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

The National Health Mission (NHM) provides support for improvement in health infrastructure, human resources in health facilities, availability and accessibility to quality healthcare across the country including Maharashtra. Technical and financial support is provided to the States/UTs to strengthen the public healthcare system, based on the proposals received in the form of Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) under NHM. Approval is accorded to the proposals in the form of Record of Proceedings (RoPs) as per norms & available resources.

Through the Reproductive Maternal Newborn Child Adolescent Health Plus Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) strategy, Government is making sustained efforts to improve maternal and child health and reduce malnutrition and anaemia in the country including tribal and remote areas. Immunization coverage has been strengthened via the digital U-WIN portal, ensuring real-time tracking of every child and pregnant woman. National Vector Borne Disease Control programme (NVBDCP) is being implemented for prevention and control of six Vector Borne Diseases including Malaria and Dengue in all States/UTs wherever these diseases are endemic.

Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) are supported under NHM to provide outreach services in remote villages with difficult terrain which are underserved and inaccessible. As per NHM-MIS report, a total of 1453 MMUs have been deployed across the country including Maharashtra.

Teleconsultation services are available at all operational Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) across the country including Maharashtra, which enables people to access the specialist services closer to their homes addressing concerns of physical accessibility, shortage of service providers and to facilitate continuum of care. The total teleconsultations conducted at AAMs across the country are 44.08 crore, as on 28.02.2026.

Under National Ambulance Service, 3,268 Advanced Life Support (ALS), 15,554 Basic Life Support (BLS), 3,839 Patient Transport Vehicle (PTV), 19 Boat Ambulances, 81 Bike Emergency Response Vehicles and 5,773 other empanelled vehicles are supported under NHM for transportation of patients, particularly pregnant women and sick infants from home to public health facilities and back across the country including Maharashtra.

The Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) with an outlay of Rs.64,180 crore aims to provide support for infrastructure development for Sub-Health Centres (SHCs), Urban AAMs, Block Public Health Units (BPHUs), Integrated District Public Health Laboratories (IPHL) and Critical Care Hospital Blocks (CCBs). Total amount of Rs. 1086.44 crore has been approved under PM-ABHIM for the State of Maharashtra for FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26.

The Fifteenth Finance Commission (FC-XV) has recommended grants through Local Governments for specific components of the health sectors. Total amount of Rs.7063.60 crore has been approved under FC-XV health grant for Maharashtra for the period from FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26.

Under the ' National Programme for Prevention & Management of Trauma and Burn Injuries ' (NPPMT&BI), 196 Trauma Care Facilities (TCFs) including 6 TCFs in Maharashtra were sanctioned in Government Hospitals/ Medical Colleges across the country.

Incentives and honorarium are provided to medical professionals to improve service delivery in rural and remote areas, including Maharashtra. Under NHM, measures such as Hard Area Allowance for specialist doctors, flexibility to States to offer negotiable salaries including ' You Quote We Pay ' , non-monetary incentives like preferential admission in postgraduate courses and multi-skilling of doctors through training in Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC) and Life Saving Anaesthesia Skills (LSAS) are supported to address the shortage of specialists in such areas.

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