80% Shortfall of Specialist Doctors in CHCs: Health Ministry Report
New Delhi: The Rural Healthcare services in India are affected by an acute shortage of specialist doctors, with around 80% shortfall of specialists at Community Health Centres (CHCs), the Rural Health Statistics Report 2021-2022 has revealed.
While it is mandatory for CHCs to be manned by four medical specialists i.e. Surgeon, Physician, Obstetrician/Gynaecologist, and Pediatrician, the report reveals that there is a shortfall of 83.2% of Surgeons, 74.2% of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, 79.1% of Physicians and 81.6% of Pediatricians. Overall, there is a shortfall of 79.5% specialists at the CHCs as compared to the requirement for existing CHCs.
As per the report prepared by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, there are altogether 161829 Sub Centres, 31053 Primary Health Centres, and 6064 Community Health Centres in India.
Although these health care centres have increased with time, the Health Ministry could not fill up all the required posts of specialist doctors in these facilities despite the efforts for increasing the number of specialist doctors.
While the number of Sub-Centres and PHCs have increased by 55.9% since 2005, "as on 31st March, 2022 the overall shortfall (which excludes the existing surplus in some of the States) in the posts of HW(F) / ANM is 3.5% of the total requirement as per the norm of one HW(F) / ANM per Sub Centre and PHC. There is vacancy of 14.4% HW (Female)/ ANM (at SCs +PHCs) when compared with the sanctioned posts," stated the report.
"The allopathic doctors at PHCs have increased from 20308 in 2005 to 30640 in 2022, which is about 50.9% increase. There is shortfall of 3.1% of allopathic doctors at PHC, out of the total requirement at all India level," it added.
In case of CHCs, the specialist doctors at CHCs have increased from 3550 in 2005 to 4485 in 2022. However, as compared to requirement for existing infrastructure, "there is a shortfall of 83.2% of Surgeons, 74.2% of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, 79.1% of Physicians and 81.6% of Pediatricians. Overall, there is a shortfall of 79.5% specialists at the CHCs as compared to the requirement for existing CHCs."
Referring to the issue of shortfall, the Ministry report explained, "Requirement of Specialists in CHCs has increased by 63.8% whereas there is only an increase of 26.3% in the actual number of in-position Specialists."
Apart from the Specialist doctors, the report has pointed out that there is a vacancy of 13.4% and shortfall of 35.5% of HW (F)/ANM at PHCs across the country.
Taking cognizance of the shortage of doctors, the Ministry report recommends for providing funds for out-sourcing and providing support services as per need. It has also been suggested that one of nursing orderlies could be trained in CSSD procedures.
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