India has adequate number of healthcare professionals: Survey

In a recent study carried out by researchers from Indian Institute of Public Health (IIPH), Gurugram on ‘Size, composition and distribution of human resource for health in India: New estimates using National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) and Registry institutions’ data’ has revealed that India has an adequate number of health professionals.

Key Highlights of Study

Data Based on: The study is based on data collected from registry institutions and estimated data from NSSO 2011-2012 to projected population as of on 1 January 2016.

The study used National Sample Survey data (NSSO 2011-2012) and projected Human Resource for Health (HRH) number for 2016 using census projection and worker participation rate. In addition to this survey also used 2017 registry data of health professionals including Medical Council of India (MCI), India Nursing Council (INC), Dental Council of India (DCI) and other professional associations.

Subject: It addresses issue of distribution of Human Resource for Health (HRH) in India.

It found that in India about 71% of people living in a rural area whereas 36% of all health workers are deployed in rural areas.

Density of Total Health Workers: is estimated to be 29 per 10,000 populations. This is based on NSSO and 38 per 10,000 population based on registration data, which is close to World Health Organisation’s (WHO’s) minimum threshold of 22.8 health workers per 10,000 population.

Disparity in density of doctors and nurses across India: is reported by study. As per it the number of doctors in Kerala and Union Territories (UTs) is high as compared to larger states such as Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Bihar.

Month: Current Affairs - July, 2019