Govt takes initiatives to mitigate shortage of doctors

Health Minister JP Nadda revealed the initiatives in a letter written to the Rajya Sabha

The Government has taken several steps to meet the shortage of doctors in the country: They include:

  • 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 anaesthesiology, forensic medicine, radiotherapy, medical oncology and surgical oncology.

  • DNB qualification has been recognised for appointment as faculty to take care of shortage of faculty.

  • 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.

  • 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/upgradation of state government medical colleges for starting new PG courses/increase of PG seats with fund sharing between the Central and State Government in the ratio of 75:25.

  • 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 in the ratio of 90:10 for North-East/special category states and 75:25 for other states.

  • Strengthening/upgradation of existing State Government/Central Government Medical Colleges to increase MBBS seats with fund sharing between the Central Government and States in the ratio of 90:10 for North-East/special category states and 70:30 for other states with the upper ceiling of the cost per MBBS pegged at Rs 1.20 crores.

  • At present 56638 MBBS seats and 25346 PG seats are available in the country.

Source: PIB

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