MBBS, PG seats increased to address healthcare worker shortages: Govt

NEW DELHI: The ministry of health and family welfare today informed the Parliament of the measures taken by the government to increase the availability of doctors in the country. Union minister of state for health and family welfare Bharti Pravin Pawar stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

The number of UG MBBS seats has increased from 51,348 before 2014 to 89,875 seats as of date, which is an increase of 75%. The numbers of PG seats have increased by 93% from 31,185 seats before 2014 to 60202 seats, the ministry informed.

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The health ministry also listed the steps taken by the government to increase the MBBS and PG seats in medical colleges. The steps include:

• Centrally Sponsored Scheme for establishment of the new medical college by upgrading district, referral hospital under which 157 new medical colleges have been approved and 71 are already functional.

• Centrally Sponsored Scheme for strengthening, upgradation of existing state government, central government medical colleges to increase MBBS and PG seats.

• Central Sector Scheme for up-gradation of government medical colleges by construction of super specialty blocks. A total of 75 projects have been approved and 55 have been completed.

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

• Relaxation in the norms for setting up of medical college 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 upto 70 years.

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There are 13,01,319 allopathic doctors registered with the state medical councils and the National Medical Commission (NMC) as of November 2021. “The doctor-population ratio is 1:834 in the country assuming 80% availability of registered allopathic doctors and 5.65 lakh AYUSH doctors. Also, there are 2.89 lakh registered dentists, 32.63 lakh registered nursing personnel and 13 lakh allied and healthcare professionals in the country,” the ministry said.

Another booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine for health care workers (HCWs) and front line workers (FLWs) who have received two doses started from 10th January 2022, it added.