New Delhi: India’s healthcare system faces a significant shortage, with 9,354 doctor posts vacant at Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in rural areas and 1,796 at urban PHCs. The data was presented in the Lok Sabha by Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda. To mitigate this shortage, states have recruited approximately 3.85 lakh additional healthcare workers under the National Health Mission (NHM), including 17,485 General Duty Medical Officers (GDMOs) and 80,890 staff nurses, as of March 31, 2024.
State-Specific Challenges and Measures
Public health and hospitals fall under state jurisdiction, and staffing decisions are managed by respective State/UT Governments. The central government, however, supports states through financial and technical assistance under NHM to address staffing gaps in primary and secondary healthcare facilities.
Key Initiatives by NHM:
- Incentives for Rural Service:
- Hard area allowance for specialist doctors in remote areas.
- Honorarium for specialists like gynecologists and anesthetists for rural Cesarean procedures.
- Flexible salary strategies such as “You Quote We Pay” to attract talent.
- Non-Monetary Incentives:
- Preferential postgraduate admission for staff serving in rural areas.
- Improved accommodation for rural postings.
- Skill Development:
- Multi-skilling of doctors to address the shortage of specialists.
- Training existing staff for better health outcomes.
Healthcare Workforce Expansion
According to the Management Information System (MIS) report (March 2024):
- Over 1.39 lakh Community Health Officers (CHOs) have been deployed at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.
- A total of 157 medical colleges have been approved under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for establishing new institutions by upgrading district hospitals.
Medical Education Growth
Since 2014, significant advancements have been made to increase the number of medical professionals:
- Medical College Growth:
- 102% increase in medical colleges (from 387 in 2014 to 780).
- Seat Expansion:
- MBBS seats grew by 130% (from 51,348 to 1,18,137).
- PG seats increased by 135% (from 31,185 to 73,157).
- Infrastructure Development:
- 22 new AIIMS and 75 super-specialty projects approved under PMSSY.
- Faculty Augmentation:
- Age limit for teaching positions extended to 70 years.
- DNB qualifications recognized for faculty appointments.
Government Commitment
The central government remains committed to addressing the healthcare workforce shortage and ensuring quality medical care across the nation, especially in underserved areas.
