75 percent Shortfall of Obstetricians, Gynecologists at State CHCs: MoS Health

Patel further wanted to know whether on an average, there is a shortage of 80 per cent of obstetricians and gynaecologists in Indian States and Union Territories and 100 per cent in Arunachal, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Sikkim.

Replying to this question, Choubey informed the house about the 75% overall shortfall of Obstetricians and Gynecologists at CHCs in States and Union Territories. He further provided the house with the States/ UTs wise details including Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Sikkim regarding the matter.

As per the statistics included in the reply, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Sikkim have almost a hundred per cent shortfall of Obstetricians and Gynecologists at the rural CHCs. As of 31^st March 2019, against the required number of 63 specialists, only 3 are in the position in Arunachal Pradesh. The required number of Obs and Gynae are respectively 28, 9, and 2 in Meghalaya, Mizoram and Sikkim. Although Meghalaya has 2 operational positions, there are no doctors at all in the other two States.

The shortfall is abnormally high among States like Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura, Uttarakhand, A & N Islands, D & N Haveli, Lakshadweep among others. In fact some of these States have no doctors at all to serve at rural CHCs.

Finally addressing the question involving the formation of a medical board without a doctor amidst the shortfall of ob-gyn specialists in the country, Minister Choubey informed the fact of Health being a state subject.

"Health is a state subject. Under National Health Mission, financial and technical support is provided to all the States/UTs in terms of human resource, drugs, diagnostics, etc. as per their requirements posed in the annual Program Implementation Plans (PIPs)," replied the Minister.

Statistics of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists at the Rural CHCs as provided by Choubey reads;