The Minister of State (Health and Family Welfare), Smt Anupriya Patel stated in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on 16 March that the government has been taking various initiatives to increase the number allopathic doctors in the country.

As per information provided by Medical Council of India, there are a total 10,41,395 allopathic doctors registered with the State Medical Councils/Medical Council of India as on 30^th September, 2017. Assuming 80% availability, it is estimated that around 8.33 lakh doctors may be actually available for active service. It gives a doctor-population ratio of 1:1596 as per current population estimate of 1.33 billion.

The Government has taken various steps to increase the number of Allopathic doctors. These efforts include, enhancement of maximum intake capacity at MBBS level from 150 to 250, relaxation in the norms of setting up of medical colleges in terms of requirement for land, faculty, staff, bed/bed strength and other infrastructure. The state governments have also been given full support for strengthening/upgradation of government medical colleges for starting new PG courses or increasing the number of PG seats.

The minister also mentioned that several new medical colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals have been set up and the number of MBBS seats have been increased in the existing state and central government medical colleges to increase MBBS seats. The ratio of teachers to students has been revised from 1:1 to 1:2 for all MD/MS disciplines and 1:1 to 1:3 in subjects of Anesthesiology, Forensic Medicine, Radiotherapy, Medical Oncology, Surgical Oncology and Psychiatry in all medical colleges across the country.

Further, teacher: student ratio in public funded government medical colleges for professors has been increased from 1:2 to 1:3 in all clinical subjects and for associate professors from 1:1 to 1:2 if they are unit heads. This would result in increase in number of specialists in the country.

Age limit for appointment/extension/re-employment against posts of teachers/dean/principal/ director in medical colleges has also been increased from 65 to 70 years. DNB qualifications as well as foreign qualification have been recognized for appointment as faculty to take care of shortage of faculty.