Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare addresses questions regarding the deployment of specialist doctors to rural areas, the introduction of diploma courses for graduate doctors, and the use of the NEET examination for admission to these courses. The Ministry supports specialist deployment through the National Health Mission (NHM) by offering financial and technical support to states/UTs. Diploma courses are available through the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) and the National Medical Commission (NMC), with admissions conducted via NEETPG.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Deployment of Specialist Doctors:**
* The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides support to strengthen the public healthcare system under the National Health Mission (NHM).
* Incentives to encourage specialist doctors to practice in rural areas include hard area allowance, honorariums for specialists (Gynecologists, Pediatricians, Anesthetists), negotiable salaries, and non-monetary incentives like preferential PG admission.
* Multi-skilling and skill upgradation of doctors are supported under NHM.
* The District Residency Programme (DRP) mandates a three-month posting/training for PG medical students in District Hospitals.
* **Diploma Courses for Graduate Doctors:**
* Diploma courses in medical specialties are offered by NBEMS and NMC for MBBS graduates.
* Admission to diploma programs is conducted through the NEETPG examination.
* NBEMS has introduced 9 Post MBBS Diploma Courses since 2020.
* Any MBBS doctor is eligible for admission, contingent on NEETPG eligibility criteria.
* Diploma courses are not restricted to graduate doctors working in district hospitals.
Impact Analysis:
* **Specialist Doctors:**
* *Impact:* Potential for increased financial and non-financial incentives for practicing in rural and remote areas.
* *Action Required:* Consider opportunities for rural practice based on available incentives and support under NHM.
* **MBBS Graduates:**
* *Impact:* Opportunity to pursue diploma courses in various medical specialties via NEETPG.
* *Action Required:* Prepare for and take the NEETPG examination to gain admission to diploma programs.
* **State Governments/Union Territories:**
* *Impact:* Access to technical and financial support under NHM for strengthening public healthcare and incentivizing specialist deployment.
* *Action Required:* Develop and submit Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) to request support for healthcare initiatives.
* **Public (Especially in Rural/Underserved Areas):**
* *Impact:* Improved access to specialist healthcare services due to increased deployment of doctors and the DRP program.
* *Action Required:* Utilize available healthcare services and provide feedback to improve the quality of care.
Key Entities Referenced
National Health Mission: A program under which the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides support to states/UTs to strengthen the public healthcare system.
NEETPG examination: National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduates; used for admission to diploma programs.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The government ministry responsible for health policy in India.
National Medical Commission: The regulatory body for medical education and profession in India.
District Residency Programme: A program notified by the National Medical Commission (NMC) that mandates a three-month posting and training of PG medical students at District Hospitals.
National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences: An autonomous body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India that conducts postgraduate and postdoctoral medical examinations.
MBBS: Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery; the primary medical degree in India.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
STARREDQUESTION NO. †*200
TO BE ANSWERED ON1STAUGUST,2025.
DIPLOMACOURSE FORGRADUATEDOCTORS
†*200.Dr. RAJEEVBHARADWAJ:
Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) whether the Government proposes to deploy specialist doctors to rural and remote hilly
areasinorder toimprove health services;
(b) if so, the detailsthereof;
(c)whether anydiploma course hasbeenintroducedfor graduate doctorsandif so, the details
thereof;
(d) whether admission to the said diploma course is also likely to be conducted through
NEETexamination andif so, the detailsthereof; and
(e) whether the said diploma course is restricted only to graduate doctors working in district
hospitals andif so, the detailsthereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
(SHRIJAGATPRAKASH NADDA)
(a)to(e): AStatementislaid on the Tableof the House.STATEMENTREFERRED TOIN REPLYTO LOK SABHASTARREDQUESTION
NO. †*200FOR1STAUGUST, 2025
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(a) to(e): Under National Health Mission (NHM), the Ministry of Health andFamily Welfare
provides technical and financial support 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, following types of incentives and honorarium are provided for
encouragingspecialist doctorstopractice inrural andremote areastoimprove healthservices
inthe country:
Hard area allowance to specialist doctors to serve in rural and remote areas and for
their residential quarters, so that they find it attractive to serve in public health
facilitiesinsuch areas.
Honorarium to Gynecologists/ Emergency Obstetric Care (EmoC) trained,
Pediatricians& Anesthetist/ Life SavingAnaesthesia Skills(LSAS)traineddoctorsis
also provided to increase availability of specialists for conducting Cesarean Sections
inrural & remote areas.
States are also allowed to offer negotiable salary to attract specialists including
flexibilityinstrategies such as “YouQuote 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
areashave also beenintroduced underNHM.
Multi-skilling of doctors is supported under NHM to overcome the shortage of
specialists. Skill upgradation of existing Human Resource (HR) is another major
strategy underNHM for improvementinhealth outcomes.
Further, the District Residency Programme (DRP) notified by the National Medical
Commission (NMC) provides for a compulsory three months posting cum training of PG
medical students at District Hospitals as a part of the course curriculum. DRP benefits the
public bystrengthening healthcare deliveryinrural andunderserved areas.
Diploma courses in various medical specialties are offered by the National Board of
Examinationsin Medical Sciences(NBEMS) andthe National Medical Commission (NMC)
for candidates who have completed their MBBS. Admission to these diploma programs is
conductedthrough the NEET-PG examination.As per information provided by National Board Of Examinations In Medical
Sciences (NBEMS), it has introduced 9 Post MBBS Diploma Courses since 2020. The
admission to these Diploma Courses is done through NEET-PG. Any MBBS doctor in the
country is eligible for admission to Diploma courses, subject to the fulfilment of Eligibility
Criteria indicated in the NEET-PG information bulletin. Diploma courses are not restricted
onlytothe graduate doctorsworking in the district hospitals.
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