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NEW DELHI: A proposal floated over a decade ago to establish an Indian Medical Service (IMS) cadre, mirroring the structure of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS), appears to be stalled, according to a recent Right to Information (RTI) reply. The Cadre Review Committee, set up by the Union Health Ministry in 2015 to evaluate this long-standing demand, has not held a single meeting since 2019.
The concept of a dedicated central health service cadre dates back over 55 years and has been recommended by multiple committees since the 1960s. Such a service existed before India’s independence but was dissolved in August 1947. The goal is to create a specialized body of medical professionals to manage the country’s public health administration, currently often handled by generalist IAS officers.
Despite the committee’s inactivity, the Health Ministry maintains that the proposal is actively being reviewed. The RTI response, obtained by Dr. Aman Kaushik, an MBBS graduate and activist, stated, “The matter is under consideration in consultation with all the states/UTs for seeking their views.”
However, when Dr. Kaushik specifically asked about the last meeting date of the committee, the reply, dated March 28 from Dr. Naveen Aggarwal, Deputy Secretary and First Appellate authority, revealed the significant gap: “A committee was constituted on the matter in 2015, and no further meeting was held after 2019.” Dr. Kaushik described this revelation as “very shocking.”
The ministry confirmed that, to date, 12 states and Union Territories have submitted their responses regarding the IMS proposal, but added that the analysis of whether these responses support or oppose the cadre is “under consideration.”
This contrasts with information provided earlier in Parliament. In December 2018, then Minister of State for Health, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, stated that the ministry had sought views from all states/UTs in 2017. At that time, he reported responses from six states (Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Sikkim, Goa, Mizoram) and two UTs (Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Andaman and Nicobar Islands). Back then, Goa, Mizoram, and the UTs supported the plan, while Kerala and Sikkim opposed it. Andhra Pradesh requested a more comprehensive proposal.
Dr. Kaushik argues that the lack of progress hinders potential improvements to India’s healthcare infrastructure, particularly in rural areas.5 “Since independence, IAS has had administrative control of health issues… we need someone trained in public healthcare,” he told The New Indian Express. He believes an IMS cadre, offering facilities and status comparable to the IAS, could incentivize doctors to serve in underserved remote regions, addressing issues of inadequate facilities and low salaries.
The continued delay, marked by the Cadre Review Committee’s inactivity since 2019, leaves the future of the proposed Indian Medical Service uncertain, despite repeated calls for its creation and its potential to strengthen public health administration in India.
Disclaimer: This news article is based solely on the information provided in the source text, including details from an RTI reply and associated reports. It aims to accurately reflect the information presented.
