India's Doctor-Population Ratio Surpasses WHO Standard
The doctor-population ratio in India has improved to 1:836, exceeding the World Health Organization (WHO) standard of 1:1000. Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel shared this information in the Lok Sabha, highlighting the progress in the healthcare sector. As of July 2024, there are 13,86,136 allopathic doctors registered with the State Medical Councils and the National Medical Commission (NMC).
Key Highlights:
- Registered Doctors: Assuming 80% availability of registered allopathic doctors and around 5.65 lakh AYUSH doctors, the doctor-population ratio stands at 1:836.
- Medical Colleges: India has 731 medical colleges with an annual intake of 1,12,112 MBBS seats and 72,627 PG seats.
- Government Initiatives: Several measures have been implemented to enhance medical education and standards, including the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for establishing new medical colleges by upgrading district/referral hospitals. Under this scheme, 157 new medical colleges have been approved, with 109 already functional.
- Seat Increase: The government has supported the increase of 4,977 MBBS seats in 83 colleges with an approved cost of Rs 5,972.20 crore, and 8,058 PG seats across various phases with significant investments.
- Expansion of Healthcare Infrastructure in India
- Under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), the government has approved 75 projects for the construction of super specialty blocks, with 66 already completed. Furthermore, 22 new AIIMS institutions have been sanctioned, and 19 of these are currently offering undergraduate courses.
- Faculty Enhancements: Recognizing DNB qualifications for teaching appointments and extending the age limit for faculty positions up to 70 years to address the shortage of medical faculty.
These measures reflect the government's commitment to strengthening healthcare infrastructure and ensuring adequate medical professionals to meet the growing population's needs.
