Tripura’s National Health Mission faces a severe staff shortage as field-level employees are deputed to the Mission Headquarters, leaving hospitals and health centers critically understaffed. Allegations of political influence and misuse of deputations worsen the state’s healthcare crisis.
The National Health Mission (NHM) in Tripura is facing a deepening operational crisis caused by a severe shortage of personnel across its district, sub-divisional, and primary healthcare units. Despite the acute need for manpower at the grassroots level, several key staff members have reportedly been deputed to the Mission Headquarters, leaving the state’s health infrastructure overstretched and underperforming.
According to officials familiar with the situation, the central government had approved these posts specifically to strengthen field-level operations at Sub-Divisional Hospitals, Community Health Centres (CHCs), and Primary Health Centres (PHCs). However, the growing trend of deputing these field staff to non-field roles at the headquarters has raised concerns over both the efficiency and transparency of the Mission’s functioning.
Field-level officers have repeatedly raised alarms over the crisis during internal review meetings chaired by senior health officials, including the Health Secretary. Their consistent appeals for adequate staffing have reportedly gone unaddressed, resulting in critical manpower gaps across the healthcare network. The state currently operates 15 Sub-Divisional Hospitals, 21 CHCs, and 115 PHCs, most of which are grappling with significant personnel shortages.
Field Units Struggling to Cope
The scarcity of essential staff has reached alarming levels, especially in specialized roles crucial for the smooth execution of NHM’s health programs. Positions like Accounts Personnel and Health Management Information System (HMIS) Assistants remain severely underfilled at the Sub-Divisional, CHC, and PHC levels. The absence of these professionals is reportedly disrupting financial management, data reporting, and program monitoring at local health institutions.
Several cases highlight the questionable deputation of personnel away from their sanctioned posts. For example, Anukul Roy, a Sub-Divisional Accounts-cum-Data Assistant from Dhalai District—an area already struggling with staff scarcity—has been deputed to the Establishment Section at the Mission Headquarters. Similarly, Uttam Paul, a Sub-Divisional Programme Manager originally sanctioned for a Sub-Divisional Hospital, has also been working at the Mission Director’s Office instead of in the field.
Overburdened District Staff
In many districts, including Unakoti, North Tripura, Dhalai, Sepahijala, South Tripura, West, Gomati, and Khowai, a single accountant is often compelled to handle financial operations for two or even three hospitals. Despite the overwhelming workload, reports suggest that at least four Accountant and Administrative Assistants are currently serving at the Mission Directorate rather than in the districts where they are most needed.
Sources within the Mission Directorate have alleged that these deputed staff members contribute little to the core operations at the headquarters. Some insiders have even claimed that the deputations may be politically motivated, with certain staff allegedly leveraging their proximity to influential political figures for favorable postings.
Allegations of Political Influence
Reports indicate that some of the deputed personnel are exploiting political connections, including alleged links to the Chief Minister and ruling party leaders, to secure positions at the Mission Directorate. This pattern of favoritism, which is said to have persisted since the previous administration, has raised serious ethical and administrative concerns.
The intertwining of political influence with bureaucratic functioning not only undermines internal discipline but also erodes the credibility of the Mission as a people-centric healthcare initiative. Observers have warned that unless the practice of politically driven deputations is curtailed, the NHM’s mission to ensure equitable and accessible healthcare across Tripura may face long-term setbacks.
Impact on Service Delivery
The persistent shortage of trained staff at the field level has already begun affecting service delivery in rural and remote areas. Patients in several districts have complained of delays in receiving health services, particularly under key NHM programs such as maternal and child health care, disease control initiatives, and data-driven monitoring systems.
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Experts believe that the NHM must urgently address these structural inefficiencies by reassigning deputed personnel back to their sanctioned posts, filling existing vacancies, and enforcing transparency in staff deployment. Without immediate corrective action, the state’s healthcare framework risks further deterioration, undermining years of progress achieved under the National Health Mission.
