Lack of Doctors in Rural Areas

Lack of Doctors in Rural Areas

The state/UT wise details of shortfall of Doctors as per Rural Health Statistics Bulletin, 2012 are placed at Annexure.

Public Health is a state subject. Under National Rural Health Mission, financial support is provided to States/UTs to strengthen the health system including engagement of doctors on contractual basis based on the

requirement posed by the States/UTs in their Programme Implementation Plans. The details of measures taken by the Central Government to encourage doctors to work in rural and remote areas include:

Provision of financial support to state/UTs for providing additional incentives and higher remuneration to doctors to serve in rural areas and improved accommodation arrangements in rural areas, so that they find it attractive to join public health facilities in rural areas.

amendment of the Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000 to provide-

(i) 50% reservation in Post Graduate Diploma Courses for Medical Officers in the Government service who have served for at least three years in remote and difficult areas; and

(ii) incentive at the rate of 10% of the marks obtained for each year in service in remote or difficult areas up to the maximum of 30% of the marks obtained in the entrance test for admissions in Post Graduate Medical Courses.

 This information was given by the Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha yesterday.