Lok Sabha Question No. 1115 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-25
Subject: MBBS Doctors in Nashik
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Rajabhau Parag Prakash Waje

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1115 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25 TH JULY, 2025

## MBBS DOCTORS IN NASHIK

## 1115. SHRI RAJABHAU PARAG PRAKASH WAJE:

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

(a) the current MBBS doctor-to-population ratio in Nashik district of Maharashtra along with the separate data for urban and rural areas and the manner in which it compares with the State and national average;

(b) whether any concrete steps have been taken by the Government to improve the availability of qualified MBBS doctors in Nashik district including rural, hilly and tribal pockets and to bridge the urban-rural gap in medical services;

(c) if so, the details of such measures including establishment of new medical colleges, recruitment drives, rural service incentives, telemedicine initiatives and any special schemes for retaining doctors in remote areas of Nashik;

- (d) if not, the reasons for the shortfall, if any; and

(e) whether any proposals are under consideration to address this critical gap in Nashik's public healthcare system and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYAPATEL)

(a) to (e): As per information provided by National Medical Commission (NMC), there are 13,86,157 registered allopathic doctors. The Ministry of AYUSH has informed that there are 7,51,768 registered practitioners in the AYUSH system of medicine. Assuming that 80% of registered practitioners in both the allopathic and AYUSH systems are available, the doctorpopulation ratio in the country is estimated to be 1:811. Specific data in respect of Nashik District is not available.

The Government has taken various measures to improve the availability of doctors in rural and remote areas in the country which include:-

-  The Family Adoption Programme (FAP) has been incorporated into the MBBS curriculum to provide equitable healthcare access to rural population. FAP involves medical colleges adopting villages, and MBBS students adopting families within these villages.
-  Under District Residency Program of NMC second/third year PG students of medical colleges are posted in district hospitals.
-  Hard area allowance is provided to specialist doctors for serving in rural and remote areas and for their residential quarters.
-  Honorarium to Gynaecologists/Emergency Obstetric Care (EmoC) trained, Paediatricians & Anesthetist/ Life Saving Anaesthesia Skills (LSAS) trained doctors is provided to increase availability of specialists for conducting Cesarean Sections in rural &remote area.
-  Special incentives for doctors and incentive for Auxiliary Nurse Midwife(ANM) for ensuring timely checkup and recording for antenatal care and adolescent reproductive and sexual health.
-  States are allowed to offer negotiable salary to attract specialist including flexibility in strategies such as 'You Quote We Pay'.
-  Non-Monetary incentives such as preferential admission in postgraduate courses for staff serving in difficult areas and improving accommodation arrangement in rural areas have also been introduced under NHM.
-  Multi-skilling of doctors is supported under NHM to overcome the shortage of specialists. Skill upgradation of existing HR is another major strategy under NRHM for achieving improvement in health outcomes.
-  Implementation of a telemedicine service known as national telemedicine service (eSanjeevani). As of 21st July 2025, total 643 health facilities are registered, 614 health facilites are operational, 556 providers and a total of 337 practitioners have been on boarded in the Nashik district on the eSanjeevani platform. The platform has facilitated a cumulative total of 6,60,719 teleconsultations in the district.

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