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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 495*
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 27THMARCH, 2026
SHORTAGE OFSPECIALIST DOCTORS IN CHCS
*495. SHRI MURASOLI S:
Will the MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to
state:
(a) the details of the shortage of specialist doctors in Community Health Centres (CHCs)
across the country;
(b) whether it is true that there is an acute shortage of specialist doctors, with a shortfall
of nearly 80 per cent of the required specialists in the 6,064 CHCs in the country, if so,
the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) whether there is a shortfall of specialist doctors, including surgeons, obstetricians and
gynaecologists, physicians and paediatricians in CHCs across the country, if so, the
reasons therefor;
(d) whether the requirement of specialist doctors in CHCs has increased by 63.8 per cent
whereas there is only an increase of 26.3 per cent in the actual number of in-position
specialists, if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the steps being taken by the Government to address this shortage of specialist doctors
in CHCs across the country?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
(SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)
(a) to (e) AStatement is laid on the Table of the House.STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLYTO LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 495* FOR 27TH MARCH, 2026
(a) to (e) Details on the availability of specialist doctors including surgeons, obstetricians,
gynaecologists, physicians and paediatricians across the country at various levels of
health care facilities are published in the form of Health Dynamic Index (HDI)
(Infrastructure and Human Resource) and is available at the website of the Ministry of
Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), which is given at the Uniform Resources Locator
(URL) as under:
https://mohfw.gov.in/sites/default/files/Health%20Dynamics%20of%20India%20%28Infr
astructure%20%26%20Human%20Resources%29%202022-23_RE%20%281%29.pdf
All the administrative matters related to human resource in health lies with the respective
State/UT Governments. Under National Health Mission (NHM), MoHFW provides
financial and technical support to States/UTs to strengthen their healthcare systems based
on the requirements posed by them in their Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs)
within their overall resource envelope.
As per information provided by National Medical Commission (NMC), there are
13,88,185 registered allopathic doctors and 7,51,768 registered AYUSH practitioners.
Further, there is an increase of 111.36% in Medical Colleges in the country from 387 in
2014 to 818 as of now. There is also an increase of 151.18% in MBBS seats from 51,348
in 2014 to 1,28,976 as of now and increase of 172.63% in PG seats from 31,185 in 2014
to 85,020 as of now.
Under NHM, following types of incentives are given for encouraging doctors to practice
in rural and remote areas of the country to address this shortage of specialist doctors in
CHCs across the country:
• Hard area allowance to specialist doctors for serving in rural and remote 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.
• Special incentives for doctors, Auxiliary Nurse and Midwife (ANM) for ensuring
timely Antenatal Checkup (ANC) checkup and recording, conducting Adolescent
Reproductive and Sexual Health activities.
• States being allowed to offer negotiable salary to attract specialist including
flexibility in strategies such as “You Quote We Pay”.
• Non-Monetary incentives such as preferential admission in post graduate courses
for staff serving in difficult areas and improving accommodation arrangement in rural
areas.
• Multi-skilling and Skill upgradation of existing doctors is supported under NHM to
overcome the shortage of specialists.
Further, through various Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS), the Ministry has taken steps
to address the shortage of the doctors/medical professionals in the country like
establishment of new medical college by upgrading district/ referral hospital,
strengthening/ upgradation of existing State Government/Central Government Medical
Colleges by increasing MBBS and PG seats, upgradation of Government Medical
Colleges by construction of Super Specialty Blocks and setting up of 22 new AIIMS
across the country.
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