Health: According to the Rural Health Statistics report released by the Health Ministry, India is facing a shortage of 76.1 percent of specialist doctors at community health centers (CHC) in rural areas.

The CHCs are 30-bed hospitals and are considered to be an essential part of the country’s rural health care system. Each CHC covers four primary health centers, with specialized services and four medical specialists—a surgeon, physician, pediatrician, and obstetrician/gynecologist.

“As compared to the requirement for existing infrastructure, there is a shortfall of 78.9 percent of surgeons, 69.7 percent of obstetricians and gynecologists, 78.2 percent of physicians, and 78.2 percent of pediatricians,” the report states.

In the case of physicians at CHCs in rural areas, there is a shortfall of 3,331 against the requirement of 5,183 doctors. The five states with maximum shortfall under this category are Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Odessa, and Tamil Nadu. For surgeons, the shortfall stands at 4,087 against the requirement of 5,183 with Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Odessa registering the maximum gap.

The number of CHCs in rural areas has increased from 3,881 in 2019 to 4,857 in 2020—an increase of 27.7 percent, despite the overall shortage of specialists.

The report also draws attention to the two percent shortfall in the posts of female health workers as of March 31, 2020.