Lok Sabha Question No. 1858 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-31
Subject: Shortage of Doctors/Scientists in Medical Colleges/Hospitals
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: PARAYAMPARANBIL KUTTAPPAN BIJU

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE**

**DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE**

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1858**

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

**Shortage of Doctors/Scientists in Medical Colleges/Hospitals**

**1858. SHRI P.K. BIJU:**

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

(a) the shortage of doctors particularly specialists doctors/scientists and paramedical staff in the Central Government controlled medical colleges/hospitals and its associated hospitals during each of the last three years and the current year;

(b) the reasons for the shortage and its impact on the quality of the medical treatment being provided to the patients hospital-wise;

(c) the details of doctors/scientists leaving the above said hospitals during each of the last three years and the current year along with the reasons therefor, hospital-wise;

(d) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to fill up the vacant posts at the earliest and to ensure timely treatment and better facilities to the patients; and

(e) the further steps taken to set up a monitoring mechanism for ensuring proper functioning of Government hospitals in the country?

**ANSWER**

**THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE**

**(SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)**

(a) to (e):	As far as AIIMS, New Delhi,  and three Central Government Hospitals namely Safdarjung Hospital, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and Lady Hardinge Medical College & Associated Hospitals in Delhi are concerned, the details of vacant posts of doctors  are given below: -

|   S No |   Year |   Doctors of Central Health Scheme (CHS) cadre in three Central Government Hospitals in Delhi | AIIMS   |
|--------|--------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|
|     1. |   2012 |                                                                                           293 | 213     |
|      2 |   2013 |                                                                                           305 |         |
|      3 |   2014 |                                                                                           250 |         |
|      4 |   2015 |                                                                                           224 |         |

There are 97 vacant posts of Scientists  in AIIMS.

As far as JIPMER, Puducherry is concerned, there is no extent of shortage of doctors/Scientists/ Paramedical staff.

The post of  doctors/ scientists  mainly lye vacant due to promotion/death/resignation/ termination/new creation/ non-availability of suitable candidate during the recruitment process and retirement **.**

The main reasons of vacancy in CHS cadre are as under:

1. Low rate of joining
2. Recruitment in Teaching, Non-Teaching and Public Health Sub-cadres could not be done during 2011-13 due to pending clarification on equivalence of Diplomat National Board Qualification with MD/MS in Broad Specialty and DM/M.Ch in Super-Specialty.
3. Non-availability of eligible candidates belonging to SC/ST /OBC communities against seats reserved for them.

The details of vacant posts of paramedical staff are as under:

|   S No |   Year |   LHMC |   SJH | RMLH   | AIIMS   |
|--------|--------|--------|-------|--------|---------|
|     1. |   2012 |    166 |    68 | 166    | 1156    |
|      2 |   2013 |    180 |    61 |        |         |
|      3 |   2014 |    181 |    62 |        |         |
|      4 |   2015 |    196 |    59 |        |         |

The details of doctors/scientists leaving the above said  Hospitals during the  last three year and current  year are given below: -

|   SN  |   Year |   LHMC |   SJH | RMLH   |   AIIMS |
|-------|--------|--------|-------|--------|---------|
|     1 |   2012 |     03 |    01 | 06     |      10 |
|     2 |   2013 |     03 |    06 | 01     |       4 |
|     3 |   2014 |     05 |    09 | 08     |       3 |
|     4 |   2015 |     03 |    01 | Nil    |       3 |

The Government has taken the following steps in recent time in order to fill up the vacant posts and to retain the best talent of doctors in CHS Cadre:

1. Sending requisitions and constant follow-up with UPSC to fill up vacant posts.
2. Pending recommendations from UPSC, concerned units are permitted to make contractual appointments against the vacant posts for a period of one year or till the regular candidate joins, whichever is earlier as a stop-gap arrangement in public interest so that the patient care does not suffer.
3. Promotions up to Senior Administrative Grade have been made time-bound without linkage to vacancies.
4. The age of superannuation of Non-Teaching and Public Health Specialists has been enhanced from 60 to 62 years and that of Teaching Specialist from 62 years to 65 years.
5. The period of study leave for CHS doctors has been increased to 36 months as against 24 months for other Central Government Employees.

As far as AIIMS, New Delhi is concerned, the following steps taken to fill up the vacant posts in various cadres are as under:

- In 2012, 99 appointments have been made at the level of Assistant Professors/Lectures in Nursing.
- 116 post of faculty have been filled up in the year 2014.
- Apart from above, 76 appointments against the vacant faculty have been made.
- 527 posts of Sister Grade-II and 147 posts of other categories have already been advertised.

Since Health is a State Subject, it is the responsibility of the State Government to take action in the matter. However, Central Government supplements their efforts by way of providing assistance under various programmes like NRHM. As far as Central Government Hospitals are concerned, monitoring of hospital functioning is done through regular interaction with hospital authorities, monitoring mechanism in place, etc. Besides, creation of infrastructure and manpower is taken up in accordance with the requirement and availability of funds.