Tribal communities in India face significant health issues due to extreme poverty and lack of access to health services. One key reason for poor health services in tribal areas identified by the Indian government is the "near complete absence" of tribal representation in health policies and programs. Studies have shown shortages of medical staff like doctors, nurses, and technicians in tribal districts across many states. While the Indian government has adopted some strategies and schemes to improve access to healthcare, they remain inadequate due to lack of reliable infrastructure and qualified medical professionals in remote tribal regions. A comprehensive national policy with strong political will is still needed to ensure adequate health resources and services reach vulnerable tribal populations.

1. The Real Truth of Tribal Health in India
The Government of India (GOI) has committed to achieve Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) but India is yet to achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Human resource (HR) is a key constraint in improving the health status in India.
Health parameters of tribal population have always been a concern for India's march
toward MDGs and now toward SDGs as well. Tribal communities in India contribute to
8.6% of the total population and most of them live in forested areas. They suffer from
extreme deprivation and economic underdevelopment.
One of the key reasons identified for poorly designed and poorly managed health
service in tribal areas, by a special committee on tribal issues constituted by GOI was
“near complete absence of participation of people from the Scheduled Tribes or their
representatives in shaping policies, making plans, or implementing services in the
health sector”.

2. Health Issues Faced by Tribal People
Tribals suffer from nutritional deficiencies such as protein and/or
micronutrient deficiencies (iodine).
Gastrointestinal disorders (dysentery and parasitic infections) and
them as well.
High prevalence of genetic disorders such as sickle-cell anemia is
Tribal health is further compromised by social issues such as
alcohol and in some areas, tobacco consumption is rapidly increasing

3. Studies Conducted in various parts of India and their results –(1)
General impression and some small studies in few tribal districts of
Pradesh, India under Maternal Health India (MATIND) project showed
private or public doctors and obstetricians and gynecologists in tribal
other/nontribal districts.
It is additionally documented that, in most tribal districts, even in
Gujarat, India, the posts of specialists, Medical Officers (MO) and Lady
well as grassroot workers including male workers and technicians are
On the contrary, the posts of health workers (female)/Auxiliary Nurse
than required at the subcenter and Primary Health Centre (PHC) levels
several states.
However, the fact being, many of the staff does not stay in their place

4. Studies Conducted in various parts of India and their results –
(2)
Some of the reasons for vacancies of staff, though not
documented/researched, are:
• A sense of professional isolation in tribal areas: There is
professional interaction or growth.
• Poor educational opportunities for the children: There are no
schools for children.
• Social and family isolation: No entertainment facilities are
These issues lead to poor motivation, which is further
transparency in posting and transfer policy in the health
staff posted in tribal areas remains in a tribal area for long
of being posted in or around urban areas of the state.

5. Barriers to Health Status in Tribal Areas
Mere availability of public health workforce cannot improve the
areas, as access to services due to geographical difficulties is
Access to health services becomes more difficult in tribal areas
or nonexistent. There is a lack of public/private transport and
and, additionally, telephone network does not reach many
Language/social barriers and the lack of access to money etc.
problems
But out of all this the most important barrier is the lack of
doctors and specialists in tribal areas of India.

6. Shortage of Medical Staff in Tribal Areas
Public health care infrastructure pattern remains the same for
rural areas, except for a lower population ratio. These norms
were set up by the planning commission in the 1980s and have
In spite of somewhat liberal norms to increase access to care
these public health centers are much harder to reach than in
terrain, forests, poor roods, and the lack of transport.
Rural health statistics (2012) report of Health and Family
huge shortfall of physicians, pediatricians, or any other
Centers (CHCs) and doctors at PHCs in tribal areas.

7. Share of Health Centres in Tribal India and the report
on Universal Health Coverage
Source-Gov.in
Government HealthCentres
Private Health Centres
Practitioners
Others

8. Strategies Adopted By Indian Government and their shortfall
Provision of additional salary to doctors posted in tribal areas.
too meager most of the times to attract and retain them for long.
The Government of Tamil Nadu offers additional marks for each
areas. These are added to their Postgraduate entrance score and
in attracting doctors to tribal areas.
The Government of Chhattisgarh had developed a very innovative
doctors accepting positions in remote, tribal, and Naxalism-
allowed to negotiate their salaries. They were paid up to An
picture, illustration, etc. 70,000 in salary and an additional
bonus per month. This is about 2.5 times the regular salary.

9. Medical Facilities and Schemes Adopted by
Government of India
Running of Health Care Institutions: The Scheduled Tribes
Department is running Allopathic outpatient clinics in the
areas. Ambulance services and medical camps are also
through these Out Patient Clinics.
Medical Assistance through Hospitals: The, intention of the
provide medical care to Scheduled Tribes people through
state. Under the scheme treatment assistance is provided to
affected by various diseases through approved hospitals in
amount is used for providing/ purchase of medicines.
Tribal Relief Fund: The scheme is intended to provide
the ST population affected by various diseases and natural
assistance is given to the Scheduled Tribes who are below
suffer from various diseases including major diseases like
heart/kidney/brain ailments etc.

10. Conclusion
It is a shame that after many years of independence, the nation is still not able
to provide reliable health care in vulnerable tribal areas.
A comprehensive, well-resourced national policy with the highest level of
political commitment is needed to ensure health HR in tribal areas.
The public health sector needs to redesign appropriate compensation packages
with monetary and nonmonetary incentives to encourage qualified doctors and
health workers to work in remote tribal areas.

11. THANK YOU