Executive Summary:
This document addresses a parliamentary question regarding shortages of health personnel in Tamil Nadu. It provides data on vacancies in government health facilities, details proposals from Tamil Nadu seeking financial assistance to address the shortages, and outlines the role of the National Health Mission (NHM) in supporting the state. The data provided is current as of the Health Dynamics of India (HDI) 2022-23.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Vacancy Data:** Vacancies exist for doctors and paramedical staff across Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Upper Primary Health Centres (UPHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs), District Hospitals (DHs) and Sub District Hospitals (SDHs) in Tamil Nadu (see Annexure for specific numbers).
* **State Responsibility:** Public Health and Hospitals are a state subject, and the responsibility for strengthening the healthcare system, including human resources, lies with the Tamil Nadu government.
* **Tamil Nadu Proposals:** The Government of Tamil Nadu submitted proposals under the National Health Mission (NHM) through Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) seeking financial and technical support to augment human resources. Details of proposals and approvals are available at nhm.gov.in.
* **National Health Mission (NHM) Support:** The NHM provides financial and technical support to address health personnel shortages, focusing on tribal and underserved areas, through several strategies:
* **Incentives and Allowances:** Hard area allowances for specialists, honorariums for critical procedures, and differential salaries.
* **Infrastructure and Support:** Relaxed population norms for health facilities, Mobile Medical Units (MMUs), and Tribal Birth Waiting Rooms.
* **Skill Development and Retention:** Multi-skilling programs, preferential admission to postgraduate courses, staff quarters, and improved living conditions.
* **Technology Integration:** Telemedicine platforms like eSanjeevani.
* **Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM):** Tamil Nadu has been approved Rs. 1,656.32 crore for strengthening healthcare infrastructure.
Impact Analysis:
**Government of Tamil Nadu**
* *Impact:* Responsible for strengthening the healthcare system and human resources within the state. Receives financial and technical support from the NHM and PM-ABHIM.
* *Action Required:* Continue to submit proposals through NHM's PIPs, implement strategies to address personnel shortages, and utilize funds from PM-ABHIM to improve healthcare infrastructure.
**Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Government of India)**
* *Impact:* Provides financial and technical assistance to Tamil Nadu through the NHM and PM-ABHIM to address health personnel shortages and improve healthcare infrastructure.
* *Action Required:* Continue to support Tamil Nadu's efforts to strengthen its healthcare system through the NHM and PM-ABHIM, monitor the implementation of approved projects, and evaluate the effectiveness of strategies to address personnel shortages.
**Healthcare Professionals (Doctors, Paramedical Staff)**
* *Impact:* Affected by vacancy rates, incentive programs, skill development opportunities, infrastructure improvements, and technology integration.
* *Action Required:* Consider opportunities in underserved areas, participate in skill development programs, and utilize telemedicine platforms to improve healthcare access.
**Citizens of Tamil Nadu, especially in rural, tribal, and hilly regions**
* *Impact:* Access to healthcare services is affected by personnel shortages. Aims to improve equitable, affordable, and quality healthcare services across Tamil Nadu, especially in underserved regions.
* *Action Required:* To utilize available healthcare services and provide feedback on service delivery.
Key Entities Referenced
Tamil Nadu: A state in southern India, the focus of the health personnel shortage issue.
National Health Mission (NHM): A centrally sponsored scheme to address health needs, particularly in underserved areas, by providing financial and technical support.
Primary Health Centres (PHCs): A type of public healthcare facility at the primary level in India.
Community Health Centres (CHCs): A type of public healthcare facility at the secondary level in India, providing specialized care.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question about health personnel shortages was raised.
Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM ABHIM): A centrally sponsored scheme to strengthen healthcare infrastructure in India.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The Indian government ministry responsible for public health.
eSanjeevani: A telemedicine platform mentioned for connecting remote areas with specialists.
GOVERNMENT OFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENT OFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 3331
TOBE ANSWERED ON08thAUGUST2025
SHORTAGEOFHEALTH PERSONNELIN TAMILNADU
3331. DR. TSUMATHYALIAS THAMIZHACHI THANGAPANDIAN:
Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) the current number and percentage of vacancies for doctors and paramedical staff in Government
Medical Colleges, Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs) in Tamil
Nadu, district-wise andespecially inrural,tribal andhillyregions;
(b) whether the Government has received proposals from the Government of Tamil Nadu seeking
additional financial or technical assistance to strengthen human resources for health in Government
medicalcolleges andpublic healthinstitutions;
(c)if so, the detailsof proposals received andactiontakenthereon;and
(d) the role of the National Health Mission (NHM) and any centrally sponsored initiatives in
addressing health personnel shortages with particular reference to strategies adopted for deployment
andretentionof medical professionals intribal andunderserved areasof Tamil Nadu?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
(SHRI PRATAPRAOJADHAV)
(a): As per the Health Dynamics of India (HDI) 2022-23, the details of vacancies for doctors and
paramedical staff in Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Upper Primary Health Centres (UPHC),
Community Health Centres (CHCs), District Hospital (DH) and Sub- District Hospital (SDH) in
Tamil Nadu isgivenat Annexure.
Public Health and Hospital is a State Subject and the responsibility for strengthening of
healthcare system including expansion of human resources lies with respective State/UT
Governments.
(b) & (c): The Government of Tamil Nadu has submitted proposals under the National Health
Mission (NHM) through ProgrammeImplementation Plans(PIPs).The detailsof proposals submitted
by the Government of Tamil Nadu seeking financial and technical support to augment human
resources for health are available in the PIPs. The approvals granted are reflected in the Record of
Proceedings(ROP)which are available at:
https://nhm.gov.in/index4.php?lang=1&level=0&linkid=59&lid=72(d): The NHM provides financial and technical support to address health personnel shortages,
particularlyintribal andunderserved areas. Key strategiesinclude:
i. Incentivesand Allowances:
o Hard area allowancesfor specialists inrural/remote areas.
o Honorariums for specialists conductingcritical procedureslike cesareansections.
o Differential salariesunderthe "YouQuote, We Pay" scheme.
ii. Infrastructure andSupport:
o Relaxedpopulationnormsfor setting uphealthfacilitiesintribal areas.
o Deployment of Mobile Medical Units (MMUs)intribal andremote regions.
o Construction of Tribal Birth WaitingRooms at PHCs.
iii. SkillDevelopment andRetention:
o Multi-skilling programslike Emergency Obstetric Care (EmOC) andLife-Saving
Anaesthesia Skills(LSAS).
o Preferentialadmission inpostgraduate courses for staffserving indifficult areas.
o Provisionof staff quartersandimprovedlivingconditions.
iv. Technology Integration:
o Telemedicine platformslike e-Sanjeevani toconnectremote areaswith specialists.
Additionally, under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-
ABHIM), Tamil Nadu has been approved Rs.1,656.32 crore for strengthening healthcare
infrastructure, including the construction of Urban Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, Integrated Public
HealthLabs, andCritical Care Blocks.
These measures aim toensure equitable, affordable, andquality healthcareservices across Tamil
Nadu, especiallyinunderserved regions.
*****Annexure
Statement referred to in reply to part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3331 for
8.8.2025 asked by Dr. T Sumathy Alias Thamizhachi Thangapandian, Hon’ble MP regarding
“ShortageofHealthPersonnelinTamilNadu”
Details of vacancies for doctors and paramedical staff in Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Upper
Primary Health Centres (UPHC), Community Health Centres (CHCs), District Hospital (DH) and
Sub-District Hospital (SDH) inTamil Nadu
HumanResources forHealth(HRH) Sanctioned In place Vacancy Vacancy %
Doctor at PHC 2934 2594 340 12%
GDMO at CHC 2190 2005 185 8%
Doctor at UPHC 558 493 65 12%
GDMO at UCHC 48 43 5 10%
Specialists at CHC 329 227 102 31%
Specialists at UCHC 40 30 10 25%
Pharmacist at PHC 1419 1046 373 26%
Pharmacist at CHC 488 407 81 17%
Pharmacist at UPHC 395 338 57 14%
Pharmacist at UCHC 37 34 3 8%
LabTechnicians at PHC 1419 1046 373 26%
LabTechnicians at CHC 594 552 42 7%
LabTechnicians at UPHC 400 345 55 14%
LabTechnicians at UCHC 44 36 8 18%
Staff Nurse at PHC 5146 4439 707 14%
Staff Nurses at CHC 3699 3290 409 11%
Staff Nurses at UPHC 1411 1237 174 12%
Staff Nurses at UCHC 374 306 68 18%
Doctors andSpecialists at DH 791 771 20 3%
Doctors andSpecialists at SDH 3066 2714 352 11%
Paramedical staffat DH 2732 2263 469 17%
Paramedical staffat SDH 6292 5597 695 11%
*****