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GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 1149
TO BE ANSWERED ON24.07.2026
SHORTAGE OFMEDICALSTAFFS IN PHCSAND CHCS
†1149.SMT.GENIBEN NAGAJI THAKOR:
Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) whether there is an acute shortage of doctors, specialists doctors, nursing staff and
paramedicalpersonnelinPrimaryHealthCentres(PHCs),CommunityHealthCentres(CHCs)
andDistrict Hospitals inrural andremote areasof the country;
(b) if so, the detailsof the vacant posts inthese centres/hospitals, State/UT-wise;
(c) the steps taken by the Government to fill these vacancies and to strengthen healthcare
services inrural andtribal areasduring the last three years; and
(d) whether the Government proposes to implement any new scheme to ensure the
availability of modern diagnostic facilities, telemedicine service and essential life-saving
medicinesineachdistrict andif so, the detailsthereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND
FAMILYWELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a)to(d): The details regarding doctors, specialists, nursing staff and paramedical
personnel in Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs), District
Hospitals in rural and remote areas of the country and their vacancies State/UT-wise in
Centres/Hospitals across the countrycan be accessed at the following linkof HDI 2023-24:
https://www.mohfw-dohfw.gov.in/static/uploads/2026/05/57202cf30629539e4d0fb0a2f700ac
62.pdf
Health is a State subject. The primary responsibility of strengthening public
healthcare system, including vacancies and to strengthen healthcare services in rural andtribal areas in healthcare facilities lies with the respective State/UT Governments. 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.
Under NHM, following types of incentives and honorarium are provided for
encouraging doctors, specialists, nursing staff and paramedical personnel to practice in rural
andremote areasof the country toaddress the shortage of staff:
• Hard area, including rural and tribal areas, are given allowances to specialist doctors
for serving in rural and remote areas and for their residential quarters so that they find it
attractivetoserve inpublic healthfacilitiesinsuch 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.
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).
Additionally, digital platforms such as e-Sanjeevani platform to provide
teleconsultation services to strengthen digital healthcare and improve accessibility especially
in rural and underserved areas. The teleconsultation services, available at all operational
AAMs across the country including rural areas, enables people to access the specialist
services closer to their homes addressing concerns of physical accessibility, shortage of
service providersandtofacilitate continuumof care.
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