**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer provided by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to Unstarred Question No. 1014, concerning the shortage of doctors and specialists in Assam. The answer was submitted on December 5th, 2025. The response details the number of sanctioned versus filled posts and steps taken to address the shortage.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Role of Government:**
* The primary responsibility of strengthening public healthcare lies with State Governments.
* The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides technical and financial support based on Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) under the National Health Mission.
* **Status of Specialists and Doctors in Assam:**
* The State of Assam is working towards upgrading health facilities.
* Details of sanctioned and filled posts are as follows:
* Specialists: 1132 sanctioned posts, 1135 in position.
* Medical Officers (MO MBBS): 3406 sanctioned posts, 3434 in position.
* The state of Assam has adequate number of specialists and medical officers posted against the sanctioned posts.
* **Faculty Positions at AIIMS Guwahati:**
* Sanctioned posts: 183
* In-position: 116
* Vacant: 67
* **Measures to Address Vacancies:**
* Creation of posts and recruitment is a continuous process, contingent on factors like availability of qualified professionals and reservation roster.
* The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has taken policy-level measures to address the shortage of healthcare professionals nationally.
* The National Health Mission (NHM) continues to provide need-based support to strengthen public health systems.
* Flexibility is provided under NHM for states/UTs to propose budgetary support in their annual Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs).
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: State Government of Assam**
* **Impact:** The State Government is responsible for strengthening the public healthcare system.
* **Action Required:** Continue upgrading health facilities and utilize NHM flexibility to propose budgetary support in their annual PIPs.
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare**
* **Impact:** The Ministry provides technical and financial support to states.
* **Action Required:** Continue policy-level measures and support through the National Health Mission.
**Stakeholder: Healthcare Professionals**
* **Impact:** Potential job opportunities through ongoing recruitment processes.
* **Action Required:** Apply for vacant positions as they become available, contingent on meeting eligibility criteria.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The primary ministry responsible for health and family welfare in India, providing technical and financial support to states to strengthen the public healthcare system.
National Health Mission: A national program that provides support to states for strengthening public health systems, including addressing human resource gaps.
Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs): Proposals submitted by states to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare under the National Health Mission to access funding and support for strengthening their healthcare systems.
Assam: The specific state mentioned in the question regarding the shortage of doctors and specialists, and efforts to upgrade health facilities.
AIIMS Guwahati: A specific All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Guwahati, Assam, where faculty positions are detailed.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 1014
TO BE ANSWERED ON05TH DECEMBER2025
SHORTAGEOFDOCTORSAND SPECIALISTS IN ASSAM
1014. MD. RAKIBULHUSSAIN:
Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a)whether the State of Assam isfacinga shortage of doctorsandspecialists;
(b) if so, the detailsthereof
(c) whether a faculty recruitment for the newly Sanctioned Medical College has been initiated in the
said State,if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the steps taken/proposed tobe taken by the Government tosolve the issue of such shortage in the
State?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) and (b): The primary responsibility of strengthening the public healthcare system lies with the
respective State Governments. However, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides
technicalandfinancial support tothe States/UTs tostrengthen the public healthcare system, based on
the proposals received inthe form of Programme ImplementationPlans(PIPs) underNational Health
Mission. Government of India provides approval for the proposal in the form of Record of
Proceedings(RoPs) aspernorms& available resources.
The State of Assam hasbeenworking towards upgradingthe healthfacilitiesinthe Stateand
the Statusof Specialist & Doctors (PHCs, CHCs, SDHs& DHs) isdetailedbelow:
Sanctioned posts In position Regular+ Contractual
Specialist 1132 1135
MO MBBS 3406 3434
The state of Assam has adequate number of specialists and medical officers posted against
the sanctionedposts.
(c): The detailsof Faculty positions at AIIMS Guwahati isasunder:
Sanctionedposts Filled PostsVacantposts:
Sanctionedposts In- position Vacant
183 116 67Creation of posts & recruitment is a continuous process. Filling up of vacant positions is
contingent on variousfactorsincluding availabilityof eligible,qualifieddoctors/health professionals,
reservation roster etc.
(d): The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has taken several policy-level measures to address
the vacancy and shortage of healthcare professionals in the country. National Health Mission
continues to provide immediate and medium-term need-based support to the states to strengthen the
public health systems by filling the gaps in human resources in secondary and primary care facilities
(District hospitals and below) as per Indian Public Health Standards. To further improve the HRH
availability to support service delivery in rural and remote areas, various flexibility has been
provided under NHM. These provisions can be utilized byall the states/ UTs and propose budgetary
support in their annual Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) based on their specific needs and
availableresource envelope.
******