India has highlighted a major expansion of its medical, nursing and allied healthcare workforce at the 79th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia (RC79), reaffirming its commitment to ensuring equitable access to specialised healthcare for rural, tribal, underserved and hard-to-reach populations.
Union Health and Family Welfare Minister J.P. Nadda made the remarks while addressing a Ministerial Roundtable on “Human Resources for Health: Equity in Specialized Care” in Timor-Leste. The meeting brought together health ministers and senior representatives from countries in the WHO South-East Asia Region to discuss strengthening healthcare workforce capacity and improving access to specialised services.
Nadda said equitable access to specialised care is an integral part of achieving Universal Health Coverage and requires sustained efforts in education and training, deployment, retention and continuing professional development of healthcare workers.
Medical education capacity more than doubles
Highlighting India’s expansion of medical education infrastructure since 2014, Nadda said the number of medical colleges has increased from 387 to 858, a rise of 121.71 per cent.
MBBS seats have increased from 51,348 to 1,42,464, registering a 177.45 per cent rise, while postgraduate seats have grown from 31,185 to 86,287, an increase of 176.69 per cent.
The government has also extended schemes to increase postgraduate capacity, with a target of creating 10,000 additional PG seats by 2028-29. Priority is being given to underserved areas and specialities facing shortages, including Emergency Medicine, Geriatrics, Psychiatry and Family Medicine.
Focus on nursing and allied healthcare
The Health Minister said 157 new nursing colleges are being established alongside existing medical colleges. Together, they are expected to add around 15,700 nursing graduates every year, with a focus on improving access to affordable and quality nursing education in underserved districts and States and Union Territories.
Nurse Practitioner programmes have also been introduced in 10 critical specialities, supported by the National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Act, 2023.
India is simultaneously expanding its allied and healthcare workforce, with the government targeting the creation of 1 lakh allied and healthcare professionals over five years. The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions, established under the 2021 Act and operationalised in 2024, brings 57 allied and healthcare professions under a structured regulatory framework.
Digital health helping bridge geographical gaps
Nadda highlighted the role of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs in providing comprehensive primary healthcare, including screening, early detection and referrals. Ayushman Arogya Shivirs are further extending screening and specialist consultations to underserved communities.
Community Health Centres and First Referral Units are also being strengthened to provide specialist and referral services. To improve the availability and retention of specialists in difficult areas, India is adopting measures such as competitive remuneration, difficult-area allowances, in-sourcing of speciality services, performance-based incentives and fixed-tenure postings.
Digital health platforms are being used to overcome geographical barriers. eSanjeevani and ABHA-enabled digital health records are facilitating teleconsultations, referrals and continuity of care, particularly for people living in remote areas.
Dili Declaration adopted on specialised care
A key 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 Region member states.
The declaration calls for health workforce planning, education and financing to be aligned with changing demographic, epidemiological and health emergency preparedness requirements. It also seeks policies to attract, recruit, deploy and retain specialist health workers, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
The declaration promotes task-sharing, mentoring, rotational outreach and visiting specialist programmes, while calling for stronger referral systems, teleconsultation networks and coordinated referral hospitals.
It also encourages the safe and equitable use of digital health technologies, including telemedicine, teleconsultation and AI-supported clinical tools, to expand access to specialist services.
Member states have further committed to innovative models such as mobile specialist teams, community-based specialist care and outreach services. The declaration also calls for integrating palliative care into health systems through workforce development, multidisciplinary teams and stronger referral pathways.
Priority areas identified under the declaration include cancer, cardiovascular diseases, trauma, maternal and newborn care, mental health, geriatric care and rehabilitation. Countries also agreed to strengthen health workforce information systems and regional cooperation through information exchange, joint training and clinical mentorship.
India welcomed the Dili Declaration, describing it as an important step towards advancing Universal Health Coverage and the goal of Health for All across the South-East Asia Region.
India receives two WHO regional awards
India was also honoured with two WHO South-East Asia Regional awards at the session in recognition of its sustained public health achievements.
The country was recognised for sustaining the regional elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus over the past decade and for strong leadership in addressing noncommunicable diseases through primary healthcare, including achieving national targets for protocol-based management of hypertension and diabetes.
Nadda dedicated the recognitions to frontline health workers across the country, crediting their sustained efforts with strengthening India’s health system and improving health outcomes.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said that the government remains committed to advancing Universal Health Coverage through investments in health infrastructure, human resources, primary healthcare, digital health and health system resilience.
