(a) whether there is shortage of Allopathic medical practitioners in the country;
(b) if so, the present requirement and availability of medical practitioners;
(c) whether the Medical Council of India (MCI) has recommended certain measures to overcome the shortage;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the follow-up action taken by the Government in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI GHULAM NABI AZAD)
(a) to (e): There is imbalance in availability of doctors in the rural and urban parts
of the country. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in consultation with Medical
Council of India, has taken various steps to increase in the number of medical practitioners
and correct the imbalance viz., relaxed requirements of land for medical college or medical
institution, reduced teacher-students ratio, relaxed bed strength of teaching hospitals in
North-Eastern States and Hill States etc., for opening of more medical colleges.