India has highlighted major gains in medical, nursing and allied healthcare capacity while reaffirming its commitment to improving access to specialised care in rural, tribal and underserved communities at the 79th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia (RC79).
Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, addressed a ministerial roundtable on “Human Resources for Health: Equity in Specialized Care”, where Health Ministers and senior representatives from WHO South-East Asia member countries discussed strategies to address workforce shortages and unequal access to specialist services.
Shri Nadda said equitable access to specialised healthcare is essential to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). He stressed the need to strengthen healthcare education and training, workforce deployment and retention, as well as continuing professional development.
Medical Education Capacity Expands
India has significantly increased its medical education infrastructure since 2014. The number of medical colleges has risen from 387 to 858, representing a 121.71% increase.
During the same period, MBBS seats increased from 51,348 to 1,42,464, a rise of 177.45%, while postgraduate medical seats grew from 31,185 to 86,287, an increase of 176.69%.
The government has also set a target of adding 10,000 postgraduate medical seats by 2028–29, with priority for underserved regions and specialties facing shortages, including Emergency Medicine, Geriatrics, Psychiatry and Family Medicine.
Focus on Nursing and Allied Healthcare
India is establishing 157 new nursing colleges alongside existing medical colleges. Together, these institutions are expected to create around 15,700 additional nursing graduates every year, particularly improving access to affordable nursing education in underserved districts and States/Union Territories.
Nurse Practitioner Programmes have also been introduced in 10 critical specialties, supported by the National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Act, 2023.
The government is further targeting the creation of 1,00,000 allied and healthcare professionals over five years. The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021 and the National Commission established in 2024 provide a regulatory framework covering 57 allied and healthcare professions.
Strengthening Specialist Care in Underserved Areas
The government is using Ayushman Arogya Mandirs to deliver comprehensive primary healthcare, including screening, early detection and referrals. Ayushman Arogya Shivirs supplement these services by taking screening and specialist consultations closer to underserved communities.
Community Health Centres and First Referral Units also support specialist and referral care. To attract and retain specialists in difficult locations, India is using measures such as competitive remuneration, difficult-area allowances, performance-linked incentives, speciality service outsourcing and fixed-tenure postings.
Digital health is another key component. Platforms such as eSanjeevani and ABHA-enabled digital health records are supporting teleconsultations, referrals and continuity of care, helping overcome geographical barriers for remote populations.
Dili Declaration on Health Workforce
A major outcome of RC79 was the adoption of the “Dili Declaration on Human Resources for Health: Equity in Specialized Care” by Health Ministers of WHO South-East Asia member states.
The declaration calls for stronger workforce planning, education and financing aligned with changing demographic, disease and health-emergency needs. It also promotes better recruitment, deployment, retention and performance of specialist health workers, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
Member states have also committed to expanding task-sharing, mentoring, rotational outreach, visiting specialist programmes and integrated referral systems. Teleconsultation networks, specialist outreach and coordinated referral hospitals are among the approaches identified to improve continuity of care.
The declaration also supports greater use of digital health technologies, including telemedicine, teleconsultation and AI-supported clinical tools, along with mobile specialist teams and community-based care.
Priority areas include cancer, cardiovascular care, trauma, maternal and newborn health, mental health, geriatric care, rehabilitation and palliative care. The declaration also calls for stronger health workforce information systems and greater regional cooperation through joint training, clinical mentorship and information exchange.
India Receives Two WHO Regional Awards
India also received two WHO South-East Asia Regional awards at RC79. The recognitions were for sustaining the regional elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus over the past decade, and for leadership in tackling noncommunicable diseases through primary healthcare, including meeting national targets for protocol-based management of hypertension and diabetes.
Shri Nadda dedicated the awards to India’s frontline health workers, acknoledging their contribution to strengthening the country’s health system and improving health outcomes.
India’s participation at RC79 highlighted its expanding healthcare workforce, medical education capacity and use of digital health to improve specialist access. The adoption of the Dili Declaration further provides a regional framework for addressing workforce gaps and advancing more equitable, accessible and patient-centred specialised healthcare.
(Photos and text source: pib.gov.in)