हिंदी
The issue of shortage of the required number of doctors in the country was recently brought up in the session of Rajya Sabha wherein the MoS Health informed about the steps being taken by the government to address the crisis.
Pertinently, the country is grappling with acute shortage of doctors and the government has taken several measures to overcome it over the last few years. However, the prescribed doctor-patient ratio by WHO is still not fulfilled.
Seeking information on the same, member Mr Bhunia asked Minister of State in Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoS Health) Ashwini Kumar Choubey about the steps Government is going to take up to address this shortage of the required number of doctors in the country.
Assuming 80% availability, it is estimated that around 9.61 lakh doctors may be actually available for active service. It gives a doctor-population ratio of 1:1404 as per current population estimate of 1.35 billion, which is lower than the WHO norm of 1:1000.New Medical Colleges by upgrading district/referral hospitals preferably in underserved districts of the country are also being established to increase the MBBS seats for the aspirants.
It has been made mandatory for all medical colleges to start PG courses within 3 years from the date of their MBBS recognition /continuation of recognition. Colleges are allowed to apply for PG courses in clinical subjects at the time of 4th renewal it will serve to advance the process for starting PG courses by more than 1 year, the Minister informed.
