Shortage of Health Facilities in Primary Health Centres and Community Health Centres

Shortage of Health Facilities in Primary Health Centres and Community Health Centres

4123. SHRI HAJI FAZLUR REHMAN
          SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL

          SHRI DILIP SAIKIA: SHRI Y. DEVENDRAPPA

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether there is a shortage of doctors, lab technicians and pharmacists in Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs) in rural areas of the country and if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;

(b) the action taken/proposed to be taken to fill the vacant posts and ensure proper healthcare facilities for the villagers;

(c) the steps taken by the Government to encourage and incentivise doctors to serve in rural areas; and

(d) the steps taken by the Government to overcome the shortage of Homoepathic and Ayurvedic doctors other than allopathic doctors in villages?

(a) & (b): Rural Health Statistics (RHS) is an annual publication, based on Health care administrative data reported by States/UTs. Details of State/UT-wise doctors, lab technicians and pharmacists in Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs) in rural areas of the country may be seen at the following link of RHS 2021-22:

https://main.mohfw.gov.in/sites/default/files/RHS%202021%2022.pdf

States/UTs are advised to put in place transparent policies of posting and transfer, and ensure rational deployment of health professionals. As the posts required for health facilities are filled up by respective State/UT Governments, they are impressed upon to fill up the vacant posts.

National Health Mission (NHM) envisages achievement of universal access to equitable, affordable & quality health care services that are accountable and responsive to people’s needs. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides technical and financial support to the

 

States/UTs to strengthen the public healthcare system, based on the proposals received in the form of Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) under National Health Mission. Government of India provides approval for the proposals in the form of Record of Proceedings (RoPs) as per norms & available resources.

The details of RoPs issued to States/UTs wise are available at following web link. https://nhm.gov.in/index1.php?lang=1&level=1&sublinkid=1377&lid=744

(c) & (d): Under NHM, following types of incentives and honorarium are provided for encouraging Health Specialists to practice in different regions of the country including rural and remote areas of the country:

• Hard area allowance 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 ANM for ensuring timely 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 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 have also been introduced under NHM.
• 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 achieving improvement in health outcomes.
• As per Section (51) of the NMC Act, 2019, the regulations of National Medical Commission of India provide for incentive of marks at the rate of upto 10% for each year service in rural/ remote/ difficult areas of the State and maximum upto 30% in NEET (PG) for admission to PG medical courses. Further, 50% medical diploma seats are reserved for the in-service medical doctors of the State Government who have served in remote and/ or difficult areas.

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