Only 10 lakh 23 thousand registered doctors point to huge healthcare gap in India

New Delhi: As per the information furnished by the Medical Council of India (MCI) to Union Health Ministry, a total of 10,22,859 Doctors who possess recognized primary medical qualification, are registered with it or the State Medical Councils (SMCs) as on 31^st March, 2017.

The MCI has revealed that there is no specific data of foreign medical graduates who are registered with the MCI/ SMC is available with the Council before 2007. However, since 2007, MCI generated computerized registration certificate and as per the available records from 2007 till mid-2014, a total of 12,858 permanent registrations were granted by MCI in respect of Indian nationals who possess primary medical qualification from various universities outside the country.

These revelations point to the fact that there is a huge gap between the doctor to patient ratio in India. The result is that the public healthcare, especially in far off rural areas is suffering due to the absence of registered quality doctors.

As per Section 13(4A) of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 and Clause 3 of the Screening Test Regulations, 2002, an Indian national or any overseas citizen of India possessing a primary medical qualification awarded by any medical institution outside India and who is desirous of getting provisional/ permanent registration from the State Medical Council (SMC) on or after 15/03/2002 can be registered after he/she qualifies a Screening Test conducted by the National Board of Examinations.

Number of Doctors Registered with State Medical Councils / Medical Council of India as on 31^st March, 2017

The Minister of State (Health and Family Welfare), Mr Faggan Singh Kulaste stated this in a written reply in the Parliament recently that the Government has taken the following steps to increase the number of doctors in the country:

♦ Relaxation in the norms for setting up of a medical college in terms of requirement for land, faculty, staff, bed/ bed strength and other infrastructure.

♦ Strengthening and upgradation of existing State Government/Central Government Medical Colleges to increase MBBS seats with fund sharing between the Central Government and States.

♦ Establishment of New Medical Colleges by upgrading district/referral hospitals preferably in underserved districts of the country with fund sharing between the Central Government and States.

♦ Enhancement of maximum intake capacity at MBBS level from 150 to 250.

♦ Enhancement of age limit for appointment/extension/re-employment against posts of teachers/dean/principal/ director in medical colleges from 65-70 years.

♦ DNB qualification has been recognized for appointment as faculty to take care of shortage of faculty.