Lok Sabha Question No. 281 (STARRED), answered on 2019-07-12
Subject: Shortage of MBBS Doctors
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Mohammad Jawed

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 281 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 12 TH JULY , 2019 SHORTAGE OF MBBS DOC TORS

## *281. DR. MOHAMMAD JAVED:

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

- (a)  whether  there  is  a  shortage  of  MBBS  doctors  in  the  country  and  if  s details thereof, State/UT - wise including Bihar;
- (b) whether any steps have been taken to increase the numb r of seats in various medical institutes/colleges across the country; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof during the last two years and the current year

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a) to ( c):  A statement is laid on the Table of the House

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 281* FOR 12 TH JULY , 2019

(a) to (c) As per information provided by Medical Council of India (MCI), are  a  total  of  11,59,309  allopathic  doctors  registered  with  the  State Councils/Medical  Council  of  India  as  on  31st  March,  2019.  Assuming  80% availability, it is estimat ed that around 9.27 lakh doctors may be actually availab for  active  service.  It  gives  a  doctor - population  ratio  of  1:1456  as  per  current population estimate of 1.35 billion, which is lower than the WHO norm of 1:1 The  details  of  number  of  allopathic doctors  registered  with  the  State  Medical Councils / MCI is at     Annexure.

Besides, there are 7.88 lakh Ayurveda, Unani and Homeopathy (AUH) doctors i the  country.  Assuming  80%  availability,  it  is  estimated  that  around  6.30 Ayurveda, Unani and Homeopathy (AUH) doctors may be actually available for service  and  considered  together  with  allopathic  doctors,  it  gives  a population ratio of 1:867 which is better than the WHO norm.

The Government has taken several steps to increase the number of seats in various medical educational institutes/medical colleges across the country. These inc

## For increasing UG Seats: -

- i. Enhancement of maximum intake capacity at MBBS level from 150 to 250.
- ii. Relaxation  in  the  norms  for  setting  up  of  Medical  College  i n  terms  of requirement of land, faculty, staff, bed/bed strength and other infrast
- iii. Minimum  requirement  of  land  for  establishment  of  medical  college  i metropolitan cities as notified under Article 243P(c) of the Constitu India has been disp ensed with.
- iv. Strengthening/ upgradation of existing State Government/Centra Government Medical Colleges to increase MBBS seats.
- v. Establishment  of  New  Medical  Colleges  by  upgrading  district/referr hospitals preferably in underserved districts of the count ry.

## For increasing PG Seats: -

- i. The ratio of teachers to students for Professor has been revised from 1:2 for all MD/MS disciplines and from 1:1 to 1:3 in all clinical subj Government funded medical colleges and in Private medical colleges with 15 years standing. Further, for Associate Professor, the said ratio h revised from 1:1 to 1:2 and 1:3 if he/she is a unit head in all clinica in  Government  medical  colleges  and  in  Private  medical  colleges  with years standing. This has resulted in increase in number of PG seats in t country.
- ii. DNB qualification has been recognized for appointment as faculty to t care of shortage of faculty.
- iii. Enhancement  of  age  limit  for  appointment/  extension/  re - employment against posts of teac hers/dean/principal/ director in medical colleges upto years.
- iv. Strengthening/  upgradation  of  State  Government  Medical  Colleges  fo starting new PG courses/Increase of PG seats.
- v. By amending the regulations, it has been made mandatory for all medi colle ges to start PG courses within 3 years from the date of their M recognition /continuation of recognition.
- vi. Colleges are allowed to apply for PG courses in clinical subjects at t of 4 th renewal it will serve to advance the process for starting PG cours more than 1 year.

Seats increased in UG and PG during the last two years and the current year under: -

| Year     |   UG seats |   PG seats |
|----------|------------|------------|
| 2017- 18 |       2340 |       4965 |
| 2018- 19 |       2910 |       1765 |
| 2019- 20 |      10565 |       2153 |

## Number of Doctors Registered with State Medical Councils / Medical Council of India as on 31 st March, 2019

| S. No.   | Name of the State         | Number of Registered Doctors   |
|----------|---------------------------|--------------------------------|
| 1.       | Andhra Pradesh            | 100587                         |
| 2.       | Arunachal Pradesh         | 973                            |
| 3.       | Assam                     | 23902                          |
| 4.       | Bihar                     | 40649                          |
| 5.       | Chattisgarh               | 8771                           |
| 6.       | Delhi                     | 21394                          |
| 7.       | Goa                       | 3840                           |
| 8.       | Gujarat                   | 66944                          |
| 9.       | Haryana                   | 5717                           |
| 10.      | Himachal                  | 3054                           |
| 11.      | Jammu & Kashmir           | 15038                          |
| 12.      | Jharkhand                 | 5829                           |
| 13.      | Karnataka                 | 122875                         |
| 14.      | Madhya Pradesh            | 38180                          |
| 15.      | Maharashtra               | 173384                         |
| 16.      | Kerala                    | 59353                          |
| 17.      | Mizoram                   | 74                             |
| 18.      | Nagaland                  | 116                            |
| 19.      | Orissa                    | 22521                          |
| 20.      | Punjab                    | 48351                          |
| 21.      | Rajasthan                 | 43388                          |
| 22.      | Sikkim                    | 1405                           |
| 23.      | Tamil Nadu                | 135456                         |
| 24.      | Uttar Pradesh             | 77549                          |
| 25.      | Uttrakhand                | 8617                           |
| 26.      | West Bengal               | 72016                          |
| 27.      | Tripura                   | 1718                           |
| 28.      | Telangana                 | 4942                           |
| 29.      | Medical Council of India* | 52666                          |
|          | Total                     | 11,59,309                      |

Note - The other State / UTs do not have their own Medical Registration Council. Hence, their workers get registration with the Councils of other neighbouring States.

* 52666 doctors were registered only with MCI. They are presumably working in States / UTs which do not have a medical register or anywhere in the country.