The rural health statistics revealed by Mohfw indicates a very grim picture of healthcare system in Rural India. Indian villages continue to reel under an acute shortage of specialists with the latest round of rural health statistics revealing a whopping 79.5 per cent shortfall. Government data shows that while the overall shortage of specialists in community health centers (CHCs) of rural areas is 80 pc, shortage of specific specialties is even higher.
The data is worrisome considering that the CHCs are mandated under the National Health Mission to provide specialised medical care of surgeons, obstetricians, gynecologists, physicians and pediatricians to village population. The current position of specialists at the CHCs reveals that as on March 31, 2022, of the sanctioned posts, 71.9 per cent surgeons, 63 per cent obstetricians and gynecologists, 67.5 per cent physicians and 69.7 per cent pediatricians are vacant. Overall 67.8 pc of the sanctioned posts of specialists at the CHCs are vacant. Importantly, there has been no change in the specialist shortfall between 2021 and 2022 with the shortage percentage being almost the same – 79.9 pc in 2021 and 79.5 pc in 2022.
