Question : DOCTORS-POPULATION RATIO

(a) the ratio of doctors in proportion to population in the country, State/UT-wise;

(b) whether the World Health Organisation(WHO) has laid down certain norms/standards in regard to doctor-population ratio;

(c) if so, the details thereof;

(d) the steps taken/proposed by the Government to meet the WHO standard in this regard;

(e) whether the Planning Commission has raised concern over the lack of health care facilities in the wake of shortage of medical professionals in the country; and

(f) if so, the details thereof alongwith corrective action taken thereon?

THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI GHULAM NABIAZAD)

(a) to (f) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO 458 FOR 10 December 2010

(a) As per the Medical Council of India (MCI) the current doctor-population ratio in the country is 1:1700.

(b) As per information given by World Health Organisation (WH0); there are no specific standard/norms by WHO which prescribes doctor-population ratio.

(c)& (d) Do not arise.

(e) & (f) The Planning Commission has identified the problem of shortage of human resources in health in the XI Plan document. Various measures have been undertaken by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to increase the intake capacity for doctors and specialists. These include relaxation in requirements of land for medical colleges, reduced teacher - student ratio, relaxed bed strength of teaching hospitals in NE States and Hill States etc. for opening of more medical colleges; raising the maximum age limit for faculty from 65 to 70 years and allowing DNB qualifications for faculty appointments in medical colleges. Besides, the Central Government under the scheme of `Strengthening and Upgradation of State Government Medical Colleges` provides financial support to State medical colleges to increase postgraduate seats in various disciplines or start new courses.