Lok Sabha Question No. 495 (STARRED), answered on 2026-03-27
Subject: Shortage of Specialist Doctors in CHCs
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Murasoli S

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 495* TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 27 TH MARCH, 2026

## SHORTAGE OFSPECIALIST DOCTORS IN CHCS

## *495. SHRI MURASOLI S:

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

- (a) the details of the shortage of specialist doctors in Community Health Centres (CHCs) across the country;
- (b) whether it is true that there is an acute shortage of specialist doctors, with a shortfall of nearly 80 per cent of the required specialists in the 6,064 CHCs in the country, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether there is a shortfall of specialist doctors, including surgeons, obstetricians and gynaecologists, physicians and paediatricians in CHCs across the country, if so, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether the requirement of specialist doctors in CHCs has increased by 63.8 per cent whereas there is only an increase of 26.3 per cent in the actual number of in-position specialists, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the steps being taken by the Government to address this shortage of specialist doctors in CHCs across the country?

## 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. 495* FOR 27 TH MARCH, 2026

(a) to (e) Details on the availability of specialist doctors including surgeons, obstetricians, gynaecologists, physicians and paediatricians across the country at various levels of health care facilities are published in the form of Health Dynamic Index (HDI) (Infrastructure and Human Resource) and is available at the website of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), which is given at the Uniform Resources Locator (URL) as under:

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

All the administrative matters related to human resource in health lies with the respective State/UT Governments. Under National Health Mission (NHM), MoHFW provides financial and technical support to States/UTs to strengthen their healthcare systems based on the requirements posed by them in their Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) within their overall resource envelope.

As per information provided by National Medical Commission (NMC), there are 13,88,185 registered allopathic doctors and 7,51,768 registered AYUSH practitioners.

Further, there is an increase of 111.36% in Medical Colleges in the country from 387 in 2014 to 818 as of now. There is also an increase of 151.18% in MBBS seats from 51,348 in 2014 to 1,28,976 as of now and increase of 172.63% in PG seats from 31,185 in 2014 to 85,020 as of now.

Under NHM, following types of incentives are given for encouraging doctors to practice in rural and remote areas of the country to address this shortage of specialist doctors in CHCs across the country:

- Hard area allowance to specialist doctors for serving in rural and remote areas.

· Honorarium to Gynecologists/ Emergency Obstetric Care (EmoC) trained, Pediatricians & Anesthetist/ Life Saving Anaesthesia Skills (LSAS) trained doctors is also provided to increase availability of specialists for conducting Cesarean Sections in rural & remote area.

· Special incentives for doctors, Auxiliary Nurse and Midwife (ANM) for ensuring timely Antenatal Checkup (ANC) checkup and recording, conducting Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health activities.

· States being allowed to offer negotiable salary to attract specialist including flexibility in strategies such as 'You Quote We Pay ' .

· Non-Monetary incentives such as preferential admission in post graduate courses for staff serving in difficult areas and improving accommodation arrangement in rural areas.

· Multi-skilling and Skill upgradation of existing doctors is supported under NHM to overcome the shortage of specialists.

Further, through various Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS), the Ministry has taken steps to address the shortage of the doctors/medical professionals in the country like establishment of new medical college by upgrading district/ referral hospital, strengthening/ upgradation of existing State Government/Central Government Medical Colleges by increasing MBBS and PG seats, upgradation of Government Medical Colleges by construction of Super Specialty Blocks and setting up of 22 new AIIMS across the country.