Odisha Faces Acute Shortage of Doctors in Community Health Centers : 5014 Positions Vacant

Odisha's Community Health Centers (CHCs) face a critical shortage of medical staff, with 5014 general doctor positions and 1114 specialist doctor roles vacant, affecting healthcare services across the state.

Bhubaneswar, Odisha : Odisha is grappling with a significant healthcare staffing crisis, as revealed in the State Assembly by Health Minister Mukesh Mahalinga. Of the sanctioned 7806 doctor positions across 375 Community Health Centers (CHCs) in the state, only 2792 are currently filled, leaving 5014 positions unoccupied. Additionally, a glaring shortage of specialists persists, with 1114 of the 1500 sanctioned positions vacant.

District-Level Breakdown

The shortage varies across districts, with Ganjam and Mayurbhanj bearing the brunt.

• Ganjam : Of 581 sanctioned doctor positions in 28 CHCs, 450 remain vacant, with only 131 doctors currently employed.

• Mayurbhanj : 309 of 567 positions in its 28 CHCs are unfilled, leaving the district with insufficient medical coverage.

Similarly, other districts like Balasore, Bolangir, and Khurda are struggling:

• Balasore : 352 sanctioned posts, 232 vacant.

• Bolangir : 314 sanctioned posts, 173 vacant.

• Khurda : 250 sanctioned posts, 126 vacant.

The specialist doctor situation is equally concerning. Ganjam has 87 vacant positions, while Mayurbhanj faces a shortage of 88 specialist doctors.

Statewide Healthcare Impact

The severe deficit is impacting critical medical services, particularly in rural and tribal-dominated districts like Kandhamal and Malkangiri. In Kandhamal, 200 of 292 sanctioned positions are vacant, while Malkangiri reports 84 vacancies out of 126.

Urban districts, including Cuttack and Bhubaneswar, are not immune, with 281 and 126 vacancies in CHCs, respectively.

Government Response

Responding to a question from MLA Prashant Behera, the Health Minister acknowledged the crisis but assured the assembly that efforts are underway to address the issue. Measures include expediting recruitment processes, increasing medical education seats, and incentivizing rural postings.

The chronic shortage of medical personnel in Odisha’s CHCs underscores systemic challenges in healthcare management. Urgent intervention is needed to bridge this gap, especially in underserved regions, to ensure equitable access to healthcare.