Parliament Question: Shortage of Medical Staff

GOVERNMENT OFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 2158 TOBE ANSWERED ON 12.12.2025 SHORTAGEOFMEDICALSTAFF 2158. SHRIVIJAYAKUMARALIASVIJAYVASANTH: SHRISURESHKUMAR SHETKAR: Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate: (a) whether many complaints/cases have been received during the last three years and the current year regarding shortage of medical staff, essential medicines and materials in Government hospitals across metrocities, if so, the detailsthereof; (b) whether it is a fact that Government hospitals continue to face critical shortages while private corporate hospitals manage highpatient loadsefficiently, if so, the detailsthereof along with the response of the Government inthis regard; (c) the immediate steps the Government has taken to ensure availability of doctors, nurses and medicalsupplies inGovernment hospitals inmetrocities, especiallyduring peak case loads; (d) whether anindependentaudit/inquiry hasbeenconductedbythe Government to investigate systemic gaps causing shortages in Government hospitals, if so, the findings thereofandif not,the reasons therefor; and (e) the manner in which the Government plan to implement nationwide reforms to prevent shortages, improve patient care and ensure that public hospitals match the efficiency of corporate hospitals inhandling highpatientinflow? ANSWER MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE (SHRIPRATAPRAOJADHAV) (a) to (e) ‘Public Health’ & ‘Hospitals’ are State subjects. State Governments make efforts for availability of adequate medical staff, essential medicines and materials in Government Hospitals of theirrespective States.Government hospitals cater to a huge patient load owing to affordability and accessibility of health care services for all sections of the society. The patient influx in Government hospitals is significantly higher in comparision to most of the private hospitals. Augmentation of healthcare facilities to ensure adequate medical staff, essential medicines and materials is a continuous process undertaken on the basis of functional requirement of the Hospitals. Information related to complaints/cases regarding shortage of medical staff, essential medicines and materials in Government hospitals across metro cities is not maintained centrally. As far as Central Government Hospitals of Delhi i.e. Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences & Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College & SafdarjungHospital, LadyHardinge Medical College & AssociatedHospitals are concerned, doctors, paramedical staff and medical supplies in various departments are available round-the - clock to cater to patients. These hospitals continuously work to manage patient load optimally through augmentation of facilities, manpower deployment and process improvements. Also, these hospitals are reviewed for their functioning through visits/inspections from time totime. The following measures have been undertaken in Central Government hospitals/ Institutes tostrengthen service deliveryandavoidshortage of staff: (i). Regular recruitment and filling-up of vacant posts through Union Public Service Commission, Staff Selection Commission, Nursing Officer Recruitment Common Eligibility Test, Common RecruitmentExaminationandcontractual engagementasperrules. (ii). Expansion of bed capacity and renovation/upgradation of wards, critical care units, OTsanddiagnostic services. (iii). Adoption of patient-flow management practices including OPD tokenisation, digital queue systems andemergency triage tohandle highpatient loadefficiently. Also, under National Health Mission(NHM), financial and technical support is provided to the States/UTs to strengthen their healthcare systems based on the Programme Implementation Plans submitted by the States/UTs within their overall resource envelope. In order to address shortage of human resources, under NHM, types of incentives and honorarium providedfor encouragingdoctors are at Annexure.Annexure referred to in the reply to part (a) to (e) of Lok Sabha unstarred question number2158foransweron12.12.2025. Types of incentives and honorarium provided for encouraging doctors and other staff to addressshortage of humanresources underNationalHealth Mission (NHM) (i) Hard area allowance to specialist doctorsfor serving inrural andremote areas. (ii) Honorarium to Gynecologists/ Emergency Obstetric Care (EmoC) trained, Pediatricians & Anesthetist/ Life SavingAnaesthesia Skills(LSAS) traineddoctors isalso provided toincrease availabilityof specialists inrural & remote areas. (iii) Incentives for doctors and Auxiliary Nurse Midwife(ANM) for ensuring timely Antenatal Care checkup and recording, for conducting Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health activities. (iv) States are also allowed to offer negotiable salary to attract specialists including flexibility instrategiessuch as “You Quote We Pay”. (v) Non-Monetary incentives such as preferential admission in post graduate courses for staff serving in difficult areas and improving accommodation arrangement in rural areas have also beenintroducedunderNHM. (vi) Multi-skilling of doctors is supported under NHM to overcome the shortage of specialists. Skill upgradation of existing human resources is another major strategy under NHM for achievingimprovement inhealthoutcomes.