Uttarakhand: Only 295 specialist doctors against 840 sanctioned posts, RTI reveals
Dehradun: Uttarakhand’s public healthcare system is grappling with a significant shortage of specialist doctors, with only 295 doctors working against 840 sanctioned positions across community health centres (CHCs), district hospitals and sub-district hospitals, according to data obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) request.
The shortage has come under scrutiny amid an ongoing investigation into suspected irregularities in MBBS admissions.
The RTI information, obtained by Haridwar-based National Public Trust, also revealed a major shortage of specialist doctors in government hospitals.
According to India Today, information obtained from the Health Department through the Right to Information (RTI) mechanism indicates that 52,942 patients were referred to higher medical centres because the necessary facilities were unavailable at government hospitals. The figures were disclosed in responses to RTI applications dated September 26 and September 30, 2026.
The shortfall is particularly acute at the community health centre level. Of the 401 specialist positions approved across 80 CHCs, only 55 are currently occupied, leaving 346 posts vacant—nearly 86% of the total. Among the 81 sanctioned physician posts at these centres, just nine have been filled. The situation is similar for anaesthetists, with nine doctors working against 80 sanctioned positions, while only 11 surgeons are available for 80 approved posts, reports the Daily.
The shortage is also evident in district and sub-district hospitals. District hospitals have 182 sanctioned specialist positions, of which 65 remain vacant. At sub-district hospitals, 134 of the 257 sanctioned posts are unfilled. The district-wise data explain an even greater workforce crunch in Uttarakhand.
While Uttarkashi has 32 vacant posts against the 41 sanctioned posts, indicating a 78% vacancy rate, Almora has a 76.4% vacancy rate with 68 vacant seats against the 89 sanctioned posts, reports the daily. Pauri Garhwal records a 74.3% vacancy rate with 81 vacancies against 109 posts. Bageshwar and Tehri Garhwal have respectively 20 vacancies among 27 sanctioned posts and 58 vacancies among 79 posts. Haridwar has 56 vacancies among 78 posts.
The lowest vacancy rate has been recorded in Dehradun, with 22.1% specialist posts lying vacant as 19 posts of the sanctioned 86 still remain vacant. National Public Trust president Krishnakant told the daily that the scarcity of doctors raises a question about the ability of the hospitals to cater to the needs of critical and pregnant patients or patients needing immediate surgery.
“When nearly 86% of specialist posts are vacant across 80 CHCs, how will critical patients, pregnant women and those requiring surgery receive treatment?” he said. He further added that 545 vacant specialist posts are in mountain areas and people have to travel 100-200 kms from hilly and rural areas.
