CAG Finds Telangana Doctor-Population Ratio Below National Average
HYDERABAD: A report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) tabled in the Assembly on Friday revealed severe staff shortages in primary healthcare centres (PHCs) and secondary healthcare centres (SHCs) in the state, with doctor and healthcare staff vacancies ranging from 60 per cent to 21 per cent respectively.
The CAG report highlighted that the state's doctor-to-population ratio stood at one doctor for every 881 people, significantly below the national average of one for every 834 people .
The previous BRS government had informed the CAG in August 2023 about a recruitment drive to fill over 12,000 vacancies in the health sector, but failed to provide details since June 2022.
The report found that during the previous BRS administration, there were over 60 per cent vacancies for doctors, 56 per cent for auxiliary nurses and midwives, 46 per cent for para-medical staff, 21 per cent for nursing staff, and 25 per cent for other support staff in primary and secondary healthcare centres under Telangana Vaidya Vidhana Parishad (TVVP).
While the director of public health had slightly better staffing levels, there was still a critical shortage of community health officers, pharmacists, and para-medical staff.
Health institutions under the commissioner of health and family welfare also faced significant shortages: 32 per cent for doctors, 29 per cent for para-medical and other staff, and 36 per cent for auxiliary nurses and midwives and nursing orderlies.
The CAG criticised the previous BRS government for lacking a human resources policy aligned with the National Health Policy of 2017. The CAG was unable to obtain state-level policies for short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals for human resources in the health sector. Additionally, the director of medical education only provided consolidated manpower data without specifics on sanctioned strength, personnel in position, and patient load.