Despite You Quote We Pay scheme, hilly areas struggling to meet doctor shortfall

Dehradun: In a concerning trend for healthcare in the state's hilly regions, fewer and fewer doctors are showing interest in serving in hilly regions, leading to a substantial number of vacant specialist positions. According to a senior government official, out of the 1,067 posts designated for specialist doctors, only a staggering 554 are currently unoccupied.

The state government's 'You Quote We Pay' scheme, introduced earlier this year, aimed to be a groundbreaking solution to encourage doctors to underserved regions. However, despite the innovative approach, the anticipated surge in doctor recruitment has not materialized, leaving healthcare facilities in remote areas grappling with staff shortages. The reluctance of doctors to choose postings in hilly areas remains a formidable obstacle, impacting the scheme's success. The reasons behind this disinterest are multifaceted, ranging from infrastructural concerns to lifestyle factors.

"You Quote, We Pay" is a scheme by the Uttarakhand government to attract specialist doctors. Under the scheme, doctors can quote their price of service and the state will pay it. The scheme aims to mitigate a 45% shortage of specialist doctors in the state. 

Despite significant advancements in health services and infrastructure following the establishment of the hill state in 2000, there is still a marked scarcity of specialised physicians in the hilly regions. State Health Secretary R Rajesh Kumar told The New Indian Express, "Against the requirement of 1,067 specialists and super-specialist doctors, we have 515 such doctors. However, we are trying to fill this gap”. However, he was hopeful that the scheme, You Quote, We Pay, is getting good results and many doctors have approached to serve in the hilly areas."

The deficiency becomes all the more apparent when considering the reliance on external aid. Kumar pointed out that 37 specialist doctors are currently engaged on a contract basis through the World Bank-funded project, the Uttarakhand Health System Development Project, and the National Health Mission. While these doctors contribute valuably to the healthcare infrastructure, the dependence on external support raises concerns about the sustainability of such initiatives.

In an effort to encourage medical professionals to serve in these challenging regions, the state government has implemented a scheme offering financial incentives. Under this initiative, super specialists receive an honorarium of up to Rs 6 lakh per month, while specialist doctors can earn up to Rs 4 lakh per month. Despite these efforts, the response has been lukewarm, raising questions about the effectiveness of financial incentives alone in addressing the systemic issue.

“Despite this, super specialist doctors are not available. cardiologists, neurosurgeons, paediatricians, gynaecologists, medicine, and physician specialists are most needed. Besides, only 33 percent of the doctors have shown interest in serving in inaccessible areas”, sources said. Anoop Nautiyal, president of the not-for-profit organisation–Social Development for Communities highlighted another reason behind the shortage of staff and stated, “Many doctors are posted in administrative positions, which needs to be changed”.