Increased in medical, also backward: MBBS seats increased by 77% in last 8 years, yet doctors are less by 80%

On the one hand, the number of medical colleges in the country is increasing rapidly, while health centers are facing a severe shortage of doctors. In the last 8 years (2014-2022), the number of medical colleges in the country increased from 387 to 648. That means there has been an increase of 67%. Meanwhile, MBBS seats also increased from 54,348 to 96,072, an increase of 77%. These figures have been revealed in the latest report of the Union Health Ministry 'Governance Reforms in Medical Education (2014-2022)'.

But according to another government report, Rural Health Statistics 2020-21, the shortage of doctors in the country's PHCs (primary health centers) and CHCs (community health centers) range from 4.3% to 80%. In 2005, there were a total of 20,308 allopathic doctors in PHCs across the country, which will increase to 31,716 in 2021. Still, this figure is less than what is needed.

CHCs are short of 83% surgeons, 74% gynecologists, 80% pediatricians, and 82% physicians of the requirement. There is also a shortage of 31% of female ANMs in PHCs. At the same time, the latest report of the Ministry of Health claims that there is one doctor per 834 people in the country, which is close to WHO's the ratio of 1000:1. But the thing to note is that 27% of the doctors in the country are not active at all. The biggest shortage of doctors is in Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, UP, and Bihar.

pleasant aspect; Government colleges increased by 96% and private by 42%

Out of a total of 648 medical colleges in the country, 355 are government, and 293 are private. Government colleges have increased by 96% and private by 42% between 2014 and 2022.

In 2014, approval was given to open 157 medical colleges with government assistance. Of these, 93 have started, while 60 colleges are expected to start in two years.

In the last 8 years, there has been a maximum increase of 105% in postgraduate seats in medical and it has increased from 30,191 to 63,842.

Concern too... The budget of the health sector should have been increased in the country, but it was reduced...

Under the National Health Policy 2017, the health budget should be 2.5% of GDP by 2025. But it reached 0.35% in the 2022-23 budget, while it was 1.1% in 2020-21.

According to the Economic Survey, Jharkhand has only 4 doctors per 10,000 people. This figure is 5 in Rajasthan, 6 in Punjab, 7 in Chhattisgarh, 8-8 in UP-Bihar-Haryana-Maharashtra, 9 in Gujarat, and 11 in Madhya Pradesh.

UP's rural health centers have the highest shortage of 1871 ANMs. Himachal (1253) is on the second and Gujarat (616) is on the third in this list.

There are a total of 5,481 PHCs in urban areas of the country. But, in proportion to the population, they are 44% less. Only 66% U-PHCs are running in government buildings. 27% are still operating from rented buildings.

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