Lok Sabha Question No. 170 (STARRED), answered on 2015-07-31
Subject: Health Professionals in Rural Areas
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: KIRTI (JHA) AZAD, C.R. CHAUDHARY

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE**

**DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE**

**LOK SABHA**

**STARRED QUESTION NO. 170**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 31** **ST** **JULY, 2015**

**Health Professionals in Rural Areas**

**†*170. SHRI KIRTI AZAD:**

**SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY:**

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

(a) whether there is a shortage of health professionals in the rural areas, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor indicating the number of registered medical practitioners and the number of them working in rural inaccessible, hilly and difficult areas, State/UT-wise;

(b) whether the Government proposes to make it mandatory for MBBS doctors to serve in these areas in the initial years of their profession, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether instances of refusal to work in such areas and instead pay fine have come to the notice of the Government and if so, the details thereof during the last three years, State/UT-wise;

(d) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to frame stringent laws to ensure compulsory service by health professionals in these areas; and

(e) the present status of the proposal to introduce an abridged course in medical/ dental stream so as to enable health professionals to render medical and oral healthcare in rural areas?

**ANSWER**

**THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE**

**(SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)**

(a) to (e)  A statement is laid on the Table of the House

**STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA**

**STARRED QUESTION NO.170 FOR 31** **ST** **JULY, 2015**

(a) Health being a State subject, no such data is maintained centrally.

As per MCI records, there are 9.29 lakh doctors registered in the Indian Medical Register as on 31.03.2014. Assuming 80% availability, it is estimated that around 7.4 lakh doctors may be actually available for active service. Besides, there are an estimated 6.77 lakh AUH doctors (Ayurveda, Unani, Homeopathic) in the country.

(b) to (d) No such provision has been made by Medical Council of India to make it mandatory for MBBS doctors to serve in rural, inaccessible, hilly and difficult areas. However, some State Governments have stipulated varying periods of such service for MBBS doctors after their graduation, and a bond is taken in this regard.

To encourage the doctors working in remote and difficult areas, the Medical Council of India with the previous approval of Central Government, has amended the Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000 to provide :-

(i)	50% reservation in Post Graduate Diploma Courses for Medical Officers in the Government service, who have served for at least three years in remote and difficult areas; and

(ii)	Incentive at the rate of 10% the marks obtained for each year in service in remote or difficult areas as upto the maximum of 30% of the marks obtained in the entrance test for admissions in Post Graduate Medical Courses.

Further, under NHM, financial incentive is also provided to MBBS as well as PG doctors for serving in the rural areas. These incentives are over and above the salaries of the doctors concerned.

(e)	The Cabinet had approved on 13.11.2013, the introduction of a course namely, Bachelor of Science (Community Health).  The main objective of the proposed course is to create mid-level health professionals who would possess the necessary public health competencies to serve the rural population. The Ministry had requested all States/UTs to include the proposal for introduction of B.Sc (CH) course in their respective State Programme Implementation Plans under NRHM flexi pool.  So far the Governments of Assam, Jharkhand and Chhatisgarh have agreed to introduce the course.