The government is constantly taking steps to meet the shortage of doctors in India. At present, 13,86,150 allopathic doctors and physicians of 7,51,768 AYUSH system are registered in the country. If 80% of doctors are considered available, then the doctors-mass ratio in the country 1: 811 i.e. 811 is a doctor on patients. The government is running several important schemes to improve this ratio and increase the number of doctors in rural areas. The government claims that in the last 10 years, there has been a 130% increase in NEET UG seats and PG seats 138%.
130% of MBBS and 138% of PG increased in 10 years
Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel said in a reply in the Rajya Sabha that the number of medical colleges in India has increased rapidly. The total number of MBBS seats has now reached 1,18,190, while PG seats have increased to 74,306. The number of MBBS seats has increased by 130% to more than 1.18 lakhs from 51,348 in 2014, while PG seats have increased by 138% (increased from 31,000 to 74,306).
Target to add 75,000 new medical seats in five years
He said that the number of medical seats has increased significantly in recent years. The government’s budget was announced to add 75,000 new medical seats in the next five years in 2025. The government alone added 13,436 new medical seats in the educational year 2024-25.
The number of medical institutions also increased by 101%
Minister of State Anupriya Patel further said that the total number of medical institutions is now 780, which was only 387 in 2014. This indicates a 101.5% increase in the last decade. Apart from this, the government has worked on upgrading existing medical colleges to increase the capacity of both MBBS and PG seats. As part of one initiative, 4,977 new MBBS seats have been added to 83 colleges and PG seats have been increased by 8,058 in various stages in 137 colleges.
Establishment of new medical colleges
He said that these efforts of the government have been supported through different government schemes, including the centrally sponsored scheme (CSS) to establish new medical colleges, especially in the underprivileged and aspirational districts. Under this scheme, new medical colleges have been added to existing district and referral hospitals to ensure the availability of healthcare education in remote areas. So far, the government has approved the establishment of 157 such medical colleges, out of which 131 are already working. Apart from this, 22 new AIIMS (AIIMS) are also being established, out of which 19 have already started undergraduate courses.