Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday, May 30, 2026, chaired a series of high-level review meetings, including a significant session with the Health Department, to address critical issues such as manpower shortages in hospitals and the upgrading of healthcare facilities in the state’s tea garden areas. The discussions were part of a broader assessment of government schemes and infrastructure projects aimed at accelerating Assam’s development journey.
The Chief Minister’s directives underscore the state government’s commitment to strengthening Assam’s healthcare ecosystem, particularly in rural and underserved regions. Addressing the persistent challenges of staff scarcity and inadequate infrastructure in tea gardens is crucial for improving public health outcomes and ensuring equitable access to quality medical services for all citizens.
What was announced
During the review meeting with the Health Department on May 30, 2026, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma focused on several key areas for strengthening the healthcare sector. Discussions specifically included strategies to fill manpower shortages in hospitals and to upgrade healthcare facilities situated in the tea garden areas of Assam.
The Chief Minister also reviewed efforts to reduce the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) to below the national average by 2029, streamline promotions within the health sector, strengthen vaccination programmes, expand free diagnostic services, and enhance the effectiveness of the state’s 108 emergency ambulance service. These initiatives are designed to improve accessibility and timely delivery of healthcare services, especially in remote areas.
Earlier in May 2026, Sarma had also directed all districts to begin establishing nursing colleges to boost the availability of trained healthcare professionals in the coming years. He also assessed the progress of 10 new medical colleges under construction and instructed officials to gradually introduce advanced healthcare technologies such as robotic surgeries and liver transplant services.
Why it matters
The focus on filling manpower shortages is critical as Assam’s healthcare sector has long grappled with a significant deficit of medical professionals. According to a state health department document presented in the state assembly in August 2024, there was a 20 percent deficit of MBBS doctors and a 10.80 percent shortfall of specialist doctors. The document also highlighted a 30.02 percent shortage of lab technicians and a 26.28 percent shortage of dental surgeons.
The Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) 2022 norms indicate a requirement for 1,218 specialist doctors in Assam; however, the actual strength stood at 1,123 against a sanctioned strength of 1,259. For MBBS doctors, the state needed 3,570 as per IPHS 2022 norms, but had only 2,935 against a sanctioned strength of 3,652, reflecting a 19.63 percent gap.
Furthermore, the upgrading of healthcare facilities in tea garden areas is vital for a population that has historically faced significant health disparities. Studies have consistently shown that healthcare in Assam’s tea gardens is often low in quality, with many hospitals lacking full-time medical officers, adequate infrastructure, and essential supplies.
The tea garden communities contribute significantly to Assam’s economy but suffer from poor health indicators, including high maternal and infant mortality rates. In 2014-16, Assam’s Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) was 237 per 100,000 live births, compared to the national average of 130, with a substantial portion of these deaths occurring in tea gardens. Improving these facilities and deploying MBBS doctors, as directed by the Chief Minister, is expected to address these long-standing issues.
Background
Assam has been actively working to enhance its health infrastructure and human resources over the past few years. Chief Minister Sarma has repeatedly emphasised the government’s commitment to building robust healthcare institutions and nurturing professionals. In April 2025, he stated that the government was building 23 medical colleges, with plans for three more.
In June 2025, the Chief Minister handed over appointment letters to 400 newly recruited Medical and Health Officers, bringing the total number of government jobs created under his administration to over 1.2 lakh. He also announced the state’s target of establishing 30 medical colleges by 2029, up from just three in 2006.
Despite these efforts, challenges persist. A December 2022 report indicated that Assam’s doctor-population ratio stood at approximately 1:1216 based on the 2011 census, and around 1:1500 considering doctor retirements and departures, falling short of the WHO norm of 1:1000. In 2023, the state had 29,795 registered doctors against a required 35,800 for its 3.85 crore population, indicating a shortage of around six thousand doctors.
The healthcare situation in tea gardens has been a concern for decades. A 2018 report by the Government of Assam noted that despite schemes like the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) Model and Mobile Medical Units (MMU) under the National Health Mission, the health status in tea gardens had not improved significantly. Approximately 155 out of 434 tea garden hospitals had no doctors at all, and only 150 were under the PPP Model. Workers in these areas often face issues like limited access to specialized doctors, diagnostic facilities, and proper transportation, leading to reliance on costly private care.
The National Health Mission (NHM) in Assam has been instrumental in various health programs, but issues of manpower and infrastructure gaps, particularly in rural areas, have been consistently highlighted in reports.
Key details
The review meeting on May 30, 2026, specifically tasked the Health Department with developing strategies to address the existing manpower gaps in hospitals across the state. This includes accelerating recruitment processes and ensuring efficient deployment of healthcare professionals.
A significant part of the discussion also revolved around enhancing healthcare infrastructure and services in the tea garden areas. The Chief Minister directed officials to deploy MBBS doctors to tea garden hospitals and upgrade their medical infrastructure and facilities to ensure better healthcare access for tea garden workers and their families.
The government’s broader health agenda includes a target to reduce Assam’s Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) below the national average by 2029. Other ongoing initiatives include strengthening vaccination drives, expanding free diagnostic services, and improving the 108 emergency ambulance service.
Previous recruitment drives by the Directorate of Medical Education (DME) Assam and the Directorate of Health Services (DHS) Assam have aimed to fill various positions, including medical officers, nurses, and paramedical staff. For instance, in December 2024, DME Assam launched a drive to fill 1,708 Grade III (Technical) positions. In September 2025, DHS Assam advertised for 191 Grade III (Non-Technical) posts.
What’s next
Following the Chief Minister’s review, the Health Department is expected to formulate and implement concrete strategies to address the identified manpower shortages and upgrade tea garden healthcare facilities. This will likely involve expedited recruitment processes and targeted infrastructure development projects.
The state government will continue its focus on achieving the IMR reduction target by 2029 and expanding access to essential health services across Assam. The progress of these initiatives will be monitored through regular high-level reviews.