The Tamil Nadu health department is facing a staff shortage in multiple healthcare facilities, with 12 per cent doctor vacancies at Primary Health Centres and over 30 per cent at Community Health Centres. About 26 per cent technician and 25 per cent specialist vacancies are not filled in Primary Health Centres.<\/p>\n
In a recent response by the Minister of State for Health in Lok Sabha, it was noted that the Tamil Nadu Health Department has a 15 per cent increase in rural healthcare demand, putting pressure on the already strained workforce. State health department officials say the Union Health Ministry needs to extend financial and technical support to fill vacancies through the National Health Mission.<\/p>\n
Shortage across most facilities <\/p>\n
The shortage of health personnel has been reported in Tamil Nadu across various healthcare facilities, including Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Upper Primary Health Centres (UPHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs), District Hospitals (DHs), and Sub-District Hospitals (SDHs).<\/p>\n
The data reveals significant vacancies in other key positions, highlighting the gap in the healthcare services in the state. There is a vacancy of about 340 doctors in PHCs and 65 in UPHCs. The specialist vacancies are even higher, with vacancy rates being 31 per cent and 25 per cent at CHCs and UPHCs, respectively, indicating a severe lapse in the delivery of specialized care.<\/p>\n
Also read: TN govt\u2019s revised pay for duty officers leaves doctors disgruntled, sparks exploitation fears<\/a><\/p>\n The shortage extends to support staff, with pharmacists at PHCs having a 26 per cent vacancy rate and lab technicians at PHCs facing a similar shortage. Despite claims of sufficient nurses in healthcare institutions, nursing staff experience significant vacancies, particularly at UCHCs, where the vacancy rate is 18 per cent.<\/p>\n Even the district and sub-district hospitals report shortages of doctors, with 11 per cent vacancies for doctors and specialists at both levels. The paramedic staff is at a shortage of 17 per cent and 11 per cent at district and sub-district hospitals, respectively.<\/p>\n MP\u2019s public revelations <\/p>\n Sharing the data on X, MP Thamizhachi Thangapandian wrote about alarming vacancies across Tamil Nadu\u2019s government health institutions, with 12 per cent of doctor posts in PHCs and over 30 per cent of specialist posts in CHCs remaining unfilled. <\/p>\n She also asked about Tamil Nadu\u2019s pending proposals under National Health Mission and urged the Centre to expedite support for underserved and tribal regions, especially through incentives, telemedicine, and infrastructure under PM-ABHIM.<\/p>\n The data highlighted a widespread shortage of healthcare professionals across Tamil Nadu\u2019s healthcare infrastructure, underscoring the need for targeted recruitment and retention strategies to address these gaps.<\/p>\n