New Delhi: A total of 79,169 allopathic doctors are registered with the Gujarat Medical Council as of November 2024, the Union Government said. This information was provided by the Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Jagat Prakash Nadda, in a reply to a question during the ongoing winter session of Parliament.

Here is the full reply by the Minister:

As per information provided by National Medical Commission (NMC), there are 13,86,145 allopathic doctors registered with the State Medical Councils (SMCs) and the National Medical Commission (NMC) as on November, 2024. Assuming 80% availability of registered allopathic doctors and around 6.14 lakh AYUSH doctors, the doctor-population ratio in the country is around 1:811 which is better than the WHO standard of 1:1000. The details of the number of allopathic doctors registered with the SMCs/Erstwhile MCI/NMC including Rajasthan is at Annexure.

The government has increased number of medical colleges and subsequently increased MBBS seats. There is an increase of 102% in Medical Colleges from 387 before 2014 to 780 as of now. Further, there is an increase of 130% in MBBS seats from 51,348 before 2014 to 1,18,137 as of now and increase of 135% in PG seats from 31,185 before 2014 to 73,157 as of now.

The measures/steps taken by the Government to increase the doctor/medical professional in the country include:-

~ Centrally Sponsored Scheme for establishment of new medical college by upgrading district/ referral hospital under which 131 new medical colleges are already functional out of 157 approved medical colleges which includes 23 medical colleges in the State of Rajasthan.

~ Centrally Sponsored Scheme for strengthening/ upgradation of existing State Government/Central Government Medical Colleges to increase MBBS and PG seats.

~ Under “Upgradation of Government Medical Colleges by construction of Super Specialty Blocks” of Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) scheme, a total of 75 projects have been approved, of which 69 projects are complete.

~ Under the Central Sector Scheme for setting up of new AIIMS, 22 AIIMS have been approved. Undergraduate courses have started in 19 of these.

~ 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 upto 70 years.

ANNEXURE

STATE/ UT-WISE LIST OF DOCTORS POSSESSING RECOGNISED MEDICAL QUALIFICATIONS AND REGISTERED WITH STATE MEDICAL COUNCILS / THE ERSTWHILE MEDICAL COUNCIL OF INDIA/ NATIONAL MEDICAL COMMISSION AS ON NOVEMBER, 2024

Source: The National Medical Commission

Note:- Erstwhile MCI had stopped the registration since 2015.