8% of Healthcare Facilities Function Without Doctors in Rural India: Health Ministry

According to the recent Rural Health Statistics, around 8 % of Primary Health Centers (PHCs) across rural India are running without a doctor while more than 35% of them do not have a laboratory technician.

"The CHC provides specialized medical care of surgeons, obstetricians and gynecologists, physicians and pediatricians. The current position of specialists manpower at CHCs reveal that as on March 31, 2015, out of the sanctioned posts, 74.6 percent of surgeons, 65.4 percent of obstetricians and gynecologists, 68.1 percent of physicians and 62.8 percent of pediatricians were vacant. Overall 67.6 percent of the sanctioned posts of specialists at CHCs were vacant," said the data on the Union Health Ministry website.

The shortfall of specialists was "significantly" high in most of the states, but, added that about 11,822 General Duty Medical Officers (GDMOs) were available at CHCs.

"8.1 percent of the PHCs were without a doctor, 38.1 percent were without a lab technician and 21.9 percent were without a pharmacist," said the data between 2014-2015.

The data said that the number of allopathic doctors at PHCs increased from 27,355 in 2014 to 27,421 in 2015 as there was significant increases in Maharashtra (431), Rajasthan (301), Tamil Nadu (236) and Haryana (94). Major reduction was observed Jammu & Kashmir (390). The number of specialist doctors at CHCs declined from 4091 in 2014 to 4078 in 2015. Major decreases have been noticed in the States of Rajasthan (125) and Punjab (29).

The number of para-medical staff and the radiographers at CHC decreased from 2,189 in 2014 to 2,150 in 2015. The major reductions were observed in Jammu and Kashmir (76) and Maharashtra (28). However, there was a significant increase in Tamil Nadu (54).

The pharmacists at PHC and CHC have increased from 22,689 to 23,131. The major increases were observed in Rajasthan (157), Karnataka (101), Tamil Nadu (83), West Bengal (70), Chhattisgarh (36) and Bihar (34). However, significant decrease had been noticed in Tripura (47), Jammu and Kashmir (39) and Nagaland (36).

Source: Medindia