(a) whether the Government is formulating any schemes with a view to promote Allopathy in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether this system of Medicine has not progressed due to scarcity of funds;
(d) whether there is acute shortage of Allopathic doctors in the country;
(e) if so, the reasons therefore; and
(f) the details of the efforts being made by the Government to promote the said system of medicine?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. PANABAKA LAKSHMI)
(a) & (b) Allopathy is a major component of the existing health care system in our country in terms of medical education, curative treatment, regulatory framework, medicines etc.
(c) No, Sir.
(d) & (e) There is no shortage in the aggregate number of doctors in the country. As per information available with the Government a total of 6,53,513 Allopathic doctors have been registered with the Medical Council of India (MCI). During the year 2004 and 2005 (upto October 2005) 18541 and 9549 doctors respectively were registered with MCI. According to MCI, the doctor population ratio in the country is approximately 1:1722.
(f) Under the National Rural Health Mission, the objective is to provide accessible, affordable and quality healthcare to all and not necessarily promote any particular system of medicine.