Parliament Question: Shortage of doctors and nurses in rural and tribal areas of Maharashtra

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 437 TO BE ANSWERED ON 3RD FEBRUARY, 2026 SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS AND NURSES IN RURAL AND TRIBAL AREAS OF MAHARASHTRA 437#. SMT. SUNETRA AJIT PAWAR: Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state: (a) whether Government is aware of the adverse impact on health services in rural and tribal areas of the State of Maharashtra due to vacant posts of doctors (27 per cent) and nurses (35 per cent); (b) the details of funds allocated to Maharashtra and that which has remained 'unutilized' under the National Health Mission (NHM) in the last three years, year-wise; and (c) the current status of the construction of critical care blocks and district public health laboratories under the Pradhan Mantri–Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM- ABHIM) scheme in the State? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV) (a): Public Health’ & ‘Hospitals’ are State subjects. The primary responsibility of the availability of doctors and nurses in various public health facilities in rural and tribal areas lies with the respective State Governments. Health Dynamics of India (HDI) (Infrastructure & Human Resources), is an annual publication, based on healthcare administrative data reported by States/UTs. Details of availability of doctors and nurses across the country including in rural and tribal areas of Maharashtra, State/UT-wise, may be seen at the following link of HDI 2022-23: https://mohfw.gov.in/sites/default/files/Health%20Dynamics%20of%20India%20%28Infrastr ucture%20%26%20Human%20Resources%29%202022-23_RE%20%281%29.pdf (b) Under National Health Mission (NHM), financial and technical support is provided to the States/UTs to strengthen their healthcare systems upto District Hospitals, based on the requirements posed by States/UTs in their Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) within their overall Resource Envelope. Government of India provides approval for the proposals in the form of Record of Proceedings (RoPs) as per norms & available resources.Details of Central Release and expenditure to the State of Maharashtra under National Health Mission is given as below: (Rs. in crore) Financial Year Central Release Expenditure 2022-23 2187.13 4501.75 2023-24 2729.3 5001.7 2024-25 2417.95 4364.86 Note: 1. The above releases relate to Central Govt. Grants & do not include State share contribution. 2. Expenditure includes expenditure against Central Release, State release & unspent balances at the beginning of the year. (c) 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, Urban Health and Wellness Centres, Support for Block Public Health Units, Integrated District Public Health Laboratories (IPHLs) and Critical Care Hospital Blocks (CCBs) in the country. 36 IPHLs and 36 CCBs have been approved for the State of Maharashtra under PM-ABHIM. Out of these, 4 IPHLs are functional and others are in- construction stage. *****