ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)
(a) to (c): National Health Profile (NHP) – 2018 depicts only the data of Government doctors serving in the country. As per NHP there are 1,14,969 Allopathic doctors serving in the Government across the country and an average population of 11,082 is served by one allopathic doctor. The State – wise availability of allopathic doctors serving in Government as per NHP (provisional) is at Annexure – I. However, the availability of doctors is measured in terms of total number of doctors available for service including those working outside the Government sector. The WHO ratio is also expressed in terms of total number of doctors per thousand population. As per information provided by Medical Council of India (MCI), there are a total 10,78,732 allopathic doctors registered with the State Medical Councils/Medical Council of India as on 31st March, 2018.
Assuming 80% availability, it is estimated that around 8.63 lakh doctors may be actually available for active service. It gives a doctor-population ratio of 1:1541 as per current population estimate of 1.33 billion. Besides, there are 7.63 lakh Ayurveda, Unani and Homeopathy (AUH) doctors in the country. Assuming 80% availability, it is estimated that around 6.10 lakh AUH doctors may be actually available for active service and considered together with allopathic doctors, it gives a doctor population ratio of 1:902 which is better than the WHO prescribed ratio of 1:1000. The number of allopathic doctors registered with the State Medical Councils / MCI is at Annexure – II. The data on doctor-population ratio in developing countries is not maintained centrally.
(d) & (e): The Government has taken various steps to increase availability of doctors in the country which include:
I. The ratio of teachers to students has been revised from 1:1 to 1:2 for all MD/MS disciplines and 1:1 to 1:3 in subjects of Anaesthesiology, Forensic Medicine, Radiotherapy, Medical Oncology, Surgical Oncology and Psychiatry. Further, teacher: student ratio in public funded Government Medical Colleges for Professor has been increased from 1:2 to 1:3 in all clinical subjects and for Asso. Prof. from 1:1 to 1:2 if the Asso. Prof. is a unit head. The same has also been extended to the private medical colleges with certain conditions. This would result in increase in number of PG seats in the country.
II. DNB qualification has been recognized for appointment as faculty to take care of shortage of faculty.
III. Enhancement of maximum intake capacity at MBBS level from 150 to 250.
IV. Relaxation in the norms of setting up of Medical College in terms of requirement for faculty, staff, bed/bed strength and other infrastructure.
V. Requirement of land for establishment of medical college in metropolitan cities as notified under Article 243P(c) of the Constitution of India has been dispensed with.
VI. Strengthening/upgradation of State Government Medical Colleges for starting new PG courses/Increase of PG seats.
VII. Establishment of New Medical Colleges by upgrading district/referral hospitals preferably in underserved districts of the country.
VIII. Strengthening/ upgradation of existing State Government/Central Government Medical Colleges to increase MBBS seats.
IX. Enhancement of age limit for appointment/ extension/ re-employment against posts of teachers/dean/principal/ director in medical colleges from 65-70 years.
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