Parliament Question: Shortage of Medical Staff in Hospitals

GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 2240 TO BE ANSWERED ON31.07.2026 SHORTAGEOFMEDICALSTAFFIN HOSPITALS †2240.SHRIBRIJENDRASINGH OLA: Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate: (a) whether it is a fact that thousands of posts of doctors, specialists, physicians, nurses and paramedical staff are still lying vacant in many Government hospitals and health centres in the country, due towhich patientsare unable toget timelytreatment; (b) if so, the detailsof the vacantposts at present, category-wise andState/UT-wise including Rajasthan, along with the number of appointments made to these posts during the last three years; (c) whether the Government has taken note that due to the shortage of medicines, diagnostic facilities, ICU beds and medical equipment in several Government hospitals, patients are beingforcedtoresort toprivate hospitals, if so, the detailsthereof; and (d) the concrete steps taken by the Government to rectify or remove these deficiencies and to ensure quality and timely healthcare services in all Government hospitals along with the timelinefixedfor the same? 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 healthcaresystem, including vacantposts lieswith the respective State/UTGovernments. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides technical and financial support to the States/UTs to strengthen the public healthcare system in rural areas based on the proposals received in the form of Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) under National Health Mission. Government of India provides approval for the proposal in the form of Record of Proceedings (RoPs) as per norms & available resources. States/ UTs to ensure availability of HR by creating adequate number of regular posts as per the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) in the long run and using NHM posts in the short to medium term to fill critical gaps.The NHM supplements the regular human resources by filling up the gaps in human resources insecondary andprimarycare facilities(District Hospital andbelow) asperIPHS. The details of doctors, specialists, physicians, nurses and paramedical staff in Government hospitals and health centres across the country and their vacancies State/UT- wise includingRajasthan can be accessed at the following linkof HDI 2023-24: https://www.mohfw-dohfw.gov.in/static/uploads/2026/05/57202cf30629539e4d0fb0a2f700ac 62.pdf To ensure availability of essential drugs and reduce the Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) of the patients visiting the public health facilities, Government has rolled out the Free Drugs Service Initiative (FDSI) under National Health Mission. This includes financial support to States/UTs for 113 drugs at Sub HealthCentre level, 179 at Primary Health Centre level, 301 at Community Health Centre level, 318 at Sub District Hospital level and 381 drugs at district Hospitals. This Ministry supports ‘Free Diagnostics Service Initiative’ programme under NHM with the aim to provide accessible and affordable pathological and radiological diagnostics services closer to the community, which in turn reduces the Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE). Diagnostics services are provided free of cost at all levels of public health facilities (14 tests at Sub Centers, 63 at Primary Health Centers, 97 at Community Health Centres, 111 test at SubDistrict Hospitals and134 tests at District Hospitals). Under NHM, following types of incentives and honorarium are provided to ensure qualityandtimely healthcareservices inallGovernment hospitals: • 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“YouQuoteWe 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. *****