Parliament Question: Vacancies in Government Hospitals and Medical Colleges

GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 3246 TO BE ANSWERED ON07.08.2026 VACANCIES IN GOVERNMENTHOSPITALS AND MEDICALCOLLEGES 3246. MS.PRANITI SUSHILKUMAR SHINDE: SHRIARVIND GANPATSAWANT: SHRIK RADHAKRISHNAN: Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate: (a) the total number of sanctioned posts and vacancies of specialists, doctors, nurses, paramedical staff and faculty in Government hospitals and medical colleges and the number of vacancies that have existed for more thanone year across the country, State/UT-wise along with the reasons therefor; (b) whether the Government has identifiedcritical shortages inspecific specialities especially inrural/underserved areasandif so,the detailsthereof; (c) the steps taken by the Government to fill these vacancies including recruitment drives undertaken during the last five years, contractual appointments, and incentives for service in rural andremote areas; and (d) whether any timeline has been fixed to address these vacancies and strengthen human resources inpublic healthcare institutions andif so, the detailsthereof? 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 healthcare system, including vacancies lies with the respective State/Union Territory Governments. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides technical and financial support to the States/Union Territory 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 Recordof Proceedings (RoPs) aspernorms& availableresources.The NHM supplements the regular human resources by filling up the gaps in human resources in secondary and primary care facilities (District Hospital and below) as per Indian PublicHealthStandards (IPHS). The details of specialists, doctors, nurses and paramedical staff in Government hospitals and their vacancies State/UT-wise can be accessed at the following link of HDI 2023-24: https://www.mohfw-dohfw.gov.in/static/uploads/2026/05/57202cf30629539e4d0fb0a2f700ac 62.pdf Under NHM, following types of incentives and honorarium are provided for encouraging doctorsandhealthcare workers topractice inrural andremote areasof the country tomitigate the impactof shortage of doctors andhealthcareworkers: • Hard area allowance to specialist doctors for serving inrural and remote areasand for their residential quarters so that they find it attractive to serve in public health facilitiesinsuch areas. • Honorarium to Gynaecologists/ 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 inrural & remote area. • Incentives like special incentives for doctors, incentive for Auxiliary Nurse and Midwife (ANM) for ensuring timely Antenatal Checkup (ANC) checkup and recording, incentives for conducting Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health activities. • States are also allowed to offer negotiable salary to attract specialist including flexibilityinstrategies 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 areashave also beenintroduced underNHM. • 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.The measures/steps taken by the Government to increase the doctors/medical professionals inthe countryincludes:- • Centrally Sponsored Scheme for establishment of new medical college by upgrading district/ referral hospital underwhich 157medicalcollegeshave beenapproved. • Centrally Sponsored Scheme for strengthening/ upgradation of existing State Government/Central Government Medical Collegestoincrease MBBS andPGseats. • DNB qualification has been recognized for appointment as faculty to take care of shortage of faculty. • Enhancement of age limit for appointment/ extension/ re-employment against posts of teachers/Dean/Principal/ Director inmedicalcollegesupto 70years. • FamilyAdoptionProgramme(FAP):The FAPhasbeenincorporatedintothe MBBS curriculum to provide equitable healthcare access to rural population. FAP involves medical colleges adopting villages andMBBS students adoptingfamilies within these villages. This enables regular follow-up of adopted families for vaccination, growth monitoring, menstrual hygiene, Iron & Folic Acid (IFA) supplementation, healthy lifestyle practices, nutrition, vector control,and medication adherence. It also helps in educatingfamiliesabout ongoinggovernmenthealthprogrammes. • District Residency Programme (DRP): The DRP notified by the NMC provides for a compulsory three months posting cum training of PG medical students at District Hospitals asa part of the course curriculum.DRP benefitsthe public by strengthening healthcaredeliveryinruralandunderservedareas. *****