Stats IQ: Parliamentary Standing Committee Report on CGHS

Parliamentary Standing Committee Report on CGHS

• Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare:  Amid a growing load of new COVID-19 cases in India, the Committee has highlighted major shortcomings in the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), which provides comprehensive healthcare to over 34 lakh employees and pensioners in India. Major findings are:
•  Shortage of Doctors: Approximately 22% of the posts of allopathic medical officers and 39% of non-gazetted staff are vacant.
  • Though the government has also been employing retired doctors for filling the vacancies in CGHS dispensary still the doctor-to-population ratio still remains skewed in many cities that are covered under the CGHS.
• Funds Underutilised: In the financial year 2022-23, under revenue head, approximately 73% of the funds has been utilised vis-à-vis revised estimates for 2022-23. However, under the capital head, the actual expenditure is just 11% of the revised estimates.
  • Pending payments under the revenue head have been cited as the reason for underutilisation of funds, and expenses amounting to ₹24 crore is yet to be accounted for, under the capital head..
  • However, under the scheme, even after considering all the cited expenses under the revenue and capital head, funds still remain unutilised.
• Lack of Budgetary Allocation: The budgetary allocation for the year 2023-24 of the Department of Health Research is only 3.34% of the total health budget as against 3.71% in 2022-23.
• Lack of Research: Public investment in health research in India is still grossly insufficient. There is urgent need for Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to spend much more than ₹1,300 crore on research.
  • The Committee has also raised serious objections to the inability of the country to retain its scientists for research.
  • COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of investing in an integrated regional, state and national level research infrastructure to protect the health of a nation.
• Recommendations of the Committee: 
  • The Health Ministry should assess the requirement of doctors in CGHS dispensaries across the country and ensure that an adequate doctor-to-population ratio is maintained.
  • The Health Ministry should expedite the recruitment of 340 candidates selected through the Combined Medical Examination for filling vacancies including those under the CGHS.
  • It recommended the Ministry to continue to make efforts for maximum utilization of the allotted funds under the scheme along with timely flow of funds and settle the bills at the earliest.
  • Health Ministry should ensure consistent supply of medicines through schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP).
  • It stressed that the budgetary allocation to the Department of Health Research should be increased to at least 5% of the total health budget and to 0.1% of the GDP till 2025-26.
  • The policy/ guidelines should include ways to ensure that research should be part of the teaching programme and adequate funds should be provided to ensure facilities and infrastructure for the same.

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