Parliament Question: Shortage of Doctors in Government Hospitals

GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 3442 TO BE ANSWERED ON07.08.2026 SHORTAGEOFDOCTORSIN GOVERNMENTHOSPITALS 3442.SHRIM K RAGHAVAN: Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate: (a) whether the Government has conducted any assessment of the shortage of doctors, specialists andnursing staff inGovernment hospitals across the country, State/UT-wise; (b) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government to fill the existing vacancieswithin a fixed timeline; (c) whether the Government has assessed the average waiting period for major surgeries in Government hospitals across the country; and (d) if so, the details thereofState-wise andthe measures takentoreduce waitingtime through additionalinfrastructure andmanpower inthisregard? ANSWER THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE (SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV) (a) to (d): Health is a State subject. The primary responsibility of strengthening public healthcare system, including vacancies lies with the respective State/UT Governments. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides technical and financial support to the States/Union Territoriesz to strengthen the public healthcare system in rural areas based on the proposals receivedinthe form of ProgrammeImplementationPlans(PIPs)underNational Health Mission. Government of India provides approval for the proposal in the form of Recordof Proceedings(RoPs) aspernorms& availableresources. The State/Union Territories-wise details of doctors, specialists and nursing staff in Government hospitals across the country can be accessed at the following link of HDI 2023- 24: https://www.mohfw-dohfw.gov.in/static/uploads/2026/05/57202cf30629539e4d0fb0a2f700ac 62.pdf Under NHM, following types of incentives and honorarium are provided for encouraging doctors, specialists and nursing staff to practice in rural and remote areas of the countrytoaddress the shortage of staff:• Hard area allowances to specialist doctors for serving in rural and remote areas and for their residential quarters so that they find it attractive to serve in public health facilities in such 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. • Incentives like special incentives for doctors, incentive for Auxiliary Nurse and Midwife (ANM) for ensuring timely Antenatal Checkup (ANC) checkup and recording, incentivesfor conductingAdolescent Reproductive andSexualHealthactivities. • States are also allowed to offer negotiable salary to attract specialist including flexibilityinstrategies such as“YouQuote We Pay”. • Non-Monetary incentives such as preferential admission in post graduate courses for staff serving in difficult areasand improving accommodation arrangement inrural areas have also beenintroducedunderNHM. • Multi-skilling of doctors is supported under NHM to overcome the shortage of specialists. Skill upgradation of existing HR is another major strategy under NRHM for achievingimprovement inhealthoutcomes. In addition tothe National HealthMission (NHM), Government of India hason-going schemestostrengthen the healthcare infrastructure andmanpower toreduce waiting time: • Pradhan MantriAyushman Bharat HealthInfrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) with certain Central Sector(CS) components, has been implemented to strengthen India's public health system through reforms that integrate health service delivery, public health action and health research, thereby enhancing the capacity of public health systems to effectively respond to pandemics andotherpublic health emergencies. • The Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojna (PMSSY): It aims at correcting regional imbalances in the availability of affordable teritiary healthcare services and toaugment facilitiesfor qualitymedical educationinthe country. The scheme hastwo components,namely,(i) SettingupofAllIndiaInstitute ofMedical Sciences(AIIMS); and (ii)Up-gradation of existing Government Medical Colleges/Institutions (GMCIs). So far setting up of 22 New AIIMS and 75 projects of upgradation of GMCIs have beenapprovedunderthe scheme invariousphases. • Under Centrally Sponsored Scheme for ‘Establishment of new Medical Colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals’, a total of 157 Medical Colleges have beenapprovedinthe country. *****