CHENNAI: The state planning commission has found critical shortage in the number of specialists– physicians, radiographers, ophthalmic assistants–and staff nurses in community health centres in the state.
In its health facility assessment in the focus block report published on Tuesday, the commission pointed out that despite apparent staff strength, operational stress exists in many health centres due to over-sanctioning without commensurate deployment and uneven distribution.
The commission conducted the assessment in 2025, covering 259 primary health centres (PHCs) and community health centres (CHCs) across 50 focus blocks (economically backwards or hilly blocks) in 37 districts.
The commission found physician posts at community health centres show 100% shortfall against both state and Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) norms. Radiographers and ophthalmic assistants show 59% shortfall, and lab technicians show 70% against IPHS norms, despite appearing adequate under state norms.
As per IPHS norms there is 81% nurse shortfall at CHCs as against 54% in PHCs and UPHCs, threatening maternity, emergency and in-patient care. Immediate contractual augmentation based redeployment are required to prevent service disruption, the report said.
PHCs in the state have nearly one-fifth shortfall of medical officers against state norms, and 15% against IPHS. In case of staff nurses, 24% shortfall is seen against state norms, and 54% shortfall against IPHS, indicating significant strain on maternal, child health and inpatient services.
Shortage is also noticed in the number of pharmacists, lab technicians, sector health nurses, health inspectors and sanitation staff. Among lab technicians, there is a 48% shortfall as per IPHS norms, limiting diagnostic services, the report added.
In the implications of service delivery, the report observed CHCs risk functioning as upgraded PHCs rather than true referral centres due to lack of specialists and diagnostic staff. PHCs and UPHCs face workload stress, especially for nursing-led services, outreach and non communicable diseases management.
The commission also recommended to fill specialist vacancies at CHCs as a non-negotiable priority. It also urged to strengthen diagnostics cadre, protect in-patient and emergency services, expand counselling and rehabilitation capacity and rationalise pharmacist deployment, among others.