Altogether 69% increase in medical colleges, 94% increase in MBBS seats since 2014: MoS Health

New Delhi: Since 2014, the total number of medical colleges in India has increased by 69% and accordingly, the country has witnessed an increase of 94% in MBBS seats, MoS Health Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar informed the Rajya Sabha recently..

As opposed to 387 medical colleges in 2014, India currently has a total number of 654 medical colleges and the MBBS seats have also been increased from 51348 to 99763 till now. Similarly, in case of the PG medical seats, the seats have been increased from 31185 to 64559 medical seats, resulting in an 107% increase.

This information was shared by the Union Minister of State for Health while responding to questions regarding patient-doctor ratio in government hospitals. Responding to the questions, the MoS Health informed that the the doctor-population ratio in the country is 1:834 which is better than the WHO standard of 1:1000.

The reply by Dr Pawar revealed that India has altogether 13,08,009 allopathic doctors registered with the State Medical Councils and the National Medical Commission (NMC) as on June, 2022 along with 5.65 lakh AYUSH doctors.

Further informing that the Government has increased the number of medical colleges and subsequently the MBBS seats, the MoS Health referred to the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for establishment of new medical college by upgrading district/ referral hospital under which 94 new medical colleges are already functional out of 157 approved.

Also Read: 96,077 MBBS, 49,790 PG seats Available in India: MoS Health informs Parliament

She also pointed out that MBBS and PG medical seats have been increased in the existing State Government and Central Government Medical Colleges under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for strengthening/ upgradation of existing State Government/Central Government Medical Colleges.

Under “Upgradation of Government Medical Colleges by construction of Super Specialty Blocks” of Pradhan MantriSwasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) scheme, a total of 75 projects have been approved, of which 60 projects are complete, informed the Minister.

Further, she pointed out that under the Central Sector Scheme for setting up of new AIIMS, 22 AIIMS have been approved and Undergraduate courses have commenced in 19 of these.

Addressing the issue of setting up medical colleges, Dr Pawar informed that norms have been relaxed in terms of requirement for faculty, staff, bed strength and other infrastructure. 

"DNB qualification has been recognized for appointment as faculty to take care of shortage of faculty. Enhancement of age limit for appointment/ extension/ re-employment against posts of teachers/Dean/Principal/ Director in medical colleges up to 70 years," added the MoS Health.

While responding to another question whether Government plans to implement the proposal of the National Medical Council against “mixopathy”, wherein a medical practitioner can only prescribe medicines in the system of medicine he is trained, the MoS Health stated, "To decide doctors of which system of medicine will be deployed at various levels of public health facilities is a prerogative of the State Governments. However, the Indian Public Health Standards, 2022 prescribes norms for allopathic services and AYUSH services have been retained as desirable. Besides this under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, sub-centres have been upgraded as Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centers led by a community health officer (CHOs)."

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Also Read:Center : 22 new AIIMS centres, upgradation projects sanctioned