Lok Sabha Question No. 86 (STARRED), answered on 2017-07-21
Subject: Doctor-Patient Ratio
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: P. KUMAR, ANOOP MISHRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 8 6 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 21 ST JULY, 2017

## DOCTOR - PATIENT RATIO

## *86. SHRI P. KUMAR:

## SHRI ANOOP MISHRA:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) the present level of doctor - patient ratio in the country, State/UT - wise, vis - avis the ratio prevailing in some of the neighbouring developing countries and dev countries;
- (b)whether  the  Government  has  any  estimate  as  to  the  effective  ratio  for prime care of the patients;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to increase this ratio and to make i r with the international standards?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE ( SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA )

- (a)to (d ) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 86* FOR 21 ST JULY, 2017

(a) to (c )  As per information provided by Medical Council of India, there are 10,22,859  allopathic  doctors  registered  with  the  State  Medical  Councils/Me Council of India as on 31 st March, 2017. Assuming 80% availability, it is estimated that around 8.18 lakh doctors may be actually available for active service. doctor - population  ratio  of  0.62:1000  as  per  current  population  estimate  of billion.  WHO prescribes a doctor population ratio of 1:1000.  The data on d ors population ratio States/UT wise is not maintained centrally. The doctor pop ratio  in  some  neighbouring  developing  countries  and  developed  countries is  at Annexure (Source:WHO)

(d) The emphasis of government on increasing the number of doctors in the cou will  improve  the  doctor  population  ratio.  There  are  479  medical  colleges country with an intake capacity of 67218 MBBS seats.  12870 MBBS seats hav been  added  in  the  last three  years.  The  Government  is  implementing  a  Centrally Sponsored  Scheme  for  Establishment  of  new  medical  colleges  attached  wi district/referral hospitals in 58 districts in under - served areas in the country.  8 such colleges have become functional.  Th ere are other Centrally Sponsored Schemes for increasing  UG  seats  and  PG  seats  in  existing  Government  medical  colleges. increase the availability of faculty and specialist doctors in the country increase in PG seats was permitted this year aft er the revision of teacher student ratio.  In all, over 5800 PG seats have been added this year. Minimum Sta Requirements (MSRs) for medical colleges including requirement of land, fac staff, bed/ bed strength and other infrastructure has been ra tionalized to facilitate setting up of new colleges.

Annexure The doctor population ratio of neighbouring developing countries and developed countries

|   Sr. No. | Name of the Country   |   Density of doctors per thousand |   Year |
|-----------|-----------------------|-----------------------------------|--------|
|         1 | Afghanistan           |                             0.304 |   2014 |
|         2 | Bangladesh            |                             0.389 |   2012 |
|         3 | Bhutan                |                             0.258 |   2014 |
|         4 | Pakistan              |                             0.806 |   2014 |
|         5 | Australia             |                             3.374 |   2013 |
|         6 | Brazil                |                             1.852 |   2013 |
|         7 | China                 |                             1.49  |   2011 |
|         8 | France                |                             3.227 |   2015 |
|         9 | Germany               |                             4.125 |   2014 |
|        10 | Japan                 |                             2.297 |   2012 |
|        11 | New Zealand           |                             2.852 |   2014 |
|        12 | Russia                |                             3.306 |   2014 |
|        13 | USA                   |                             2.554 |   2013 |