Meghalaya Grapples With Severe Doctor Shortage

Shillong: Meghalaya faces a medical crisis. The state has 23.8 allopathic doctors for every 100,000 residents, roughly one doctor for every 4,200 people. This sits far below the national average of 61.5 per 100,000, or one per 1,600. A new study in Health Policy and Planning exposes the gaps.

Specialist care is even harder to find. Less than half of the 320 sanctioned specialist roles are filled. Most doctors cluster in East Khasi Hills, leaving other districts entirely without specialists. This geographic divide forces patients in remote, tribal areas to travel long distances for help. Researchers describe this as "horizontal inequity" where people with similar needs get vastly different levels of care.

Non-communicable diseases now account for 56 percent of the state total disability-adjusted life years, up from 28 percent in 1990. Chronic conditions like cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases demand consistent, local access to treatment. Currently, the workforce cannot meet this pressure. Even women, who make up most of the health workforce, hold only 5 percent of specialist positions.

Authors Ankur Nair, Pratheeba John, and Rajeev Sadanandan analyzed the 2024 Human Resources for Health framework. The plan calls for a dedicated public health cadre, restructured clinical roles, and rural incentives. The study warns that administrative changes alone will fail. Success requires sustained funding and political grit. Local training and community involvement must replace top-down policy if the state expects real change.