Lok Sabha Question No. 3431 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-05
Subject: Qualified Doctors and Health Workforces
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: RAMACHANDRAN MULLAPPALLY, ASHWINI KUMAR, RAKESH SINGH, GOKARAJU GANGA RAJU, RANGASWAMY DHRUVANARAYANA, SAUGATA ROY, KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL, P.K.SREEMATHI TEACHER, ANBUMANI RAMADOSS, JUGAL KISHORE SHARMA, SANJAY HARIBHAU JADHAV

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO. 3431 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 TH AUGUST, 2016

## QUALIFIED DOCTORS AN D HEALTH WORKFORCES

## 3431. SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDRAN:

SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR:

SHRI RAKESH SINGH:

DR. GOKARAJU GANGA RAJU:

SHRI R. DHRUVA NARAYANA:

PROF. SAUGATA ROY:

SHRI KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL:

SHRIMATI P.K. SREEMATHI TEACHER:

DR. ANBUMANI RAMADOSS:

SHRI JUGAL KISHORE:

SHRI SANJAY HARIBHAU JADHAV:

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

- (a) whether the Government has taken note of the report of World Health Organization (WHO) which  stated  that large  number  of  Allopathic  doctors  in  the country  do  not  have  medical qualification and lower national level of density of all doctors, nurses and midwives;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the corrective measures taken by the Government to provide adequate qualified doctors and healthcare workforce in the country?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

(SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)

(a) & (b): As per IMC Act, 1956 only the practitioners enrolled on a State medical regi can  practice  medicine.  Any  person  who  acts  in  contravention  is  liable  to  be  punished imprisonment and/or fine. Since Health is a State subject, action in such cases is to be taken by the respective State Governments. It may be noted that besides 9.59 lakh registered all doctors in the country, there are  6.77 lakh Ayurveda, Unani and Homeopathy (AUH) doctors.

Assuming 80% availability of doctors, it is estimated that around 7.67 lakh doctors may be  actually  available  for  active  service.  It  gives  a  doctor - population  ratio  of  1:1681.  If  the allopathic and AUH streams are considered together, it gives a doctor population ratio o Likewise,  7,89,796  Auxiliary  N urse  Midwives  (ANM)  and  17,93,337  Registered  Nurse  & Registered  Midwives  (RN&RM)  are  registered  in  the  country.  Assuming  80%  availability  o ANMs  and  60%  availability  of  RN&RMs,  there  would  be  17.10  lakhs  nursing  personnel  in service in the country, which gives a nurse population ratio of 1:748.

(c): There are 439 medical colleges in the country with an intake capacity of 59883 MB seats  and  around  8000  Nursing  institutes  with  an  annual  intake  of  3  lakh  students Government  has  taken  the  following steps  to  further  augment  the  availability  of  doctors  an nursing personnel in the country:

- I. The  ratio  of  teachers  to  students  has  been  revised  from  1:1  to  1:2  for  all  M disciplines and 1:1 to 1:3 in subjects of Anaesthesiology, Forensic Medic Radiot herapy, Medical Oncology, Surgical Oncology and Psychiatry.
- II. DNB  qualification  has  been  recognized  for  appointment  as  faculty  to  take  care shortage of faculty.
- III. Enhancement of maximum intake capacity at MBBS level from 150 to 250.
- IV. Enhancement  of  age  li mit  for  appointment/extension/re - employment  against  posts  of teachers/dean/principal/ director in medical colleges from 65 - 70 years.
- V. Relaxation in the norms for setting up of a medical college in terms of requireme land, faculty, staff, bed/ bed str ength and other infrastructure.

## VI. Centrally sponsored schemes for medical education:

- (a)Strengthening/upgradation  of  State  Government  Medical  Colleges  for  starting  new courses/Increase of PG seats.
- (b)Establishment of New Medical Colleges by upgrading district/referral hospitals prefer underserved areas of the country.
- (c)Strengthening/  upgradation  of  existing  State  Government/Central  Government  Medica Colleges to increase MBBS seats.

(d)Upgradation/strengthening of Nursing Services (ANM/GNM Schools).