Health ministry planning curbs on migration of doctors to improve doctor-patient ratio

With the doctor-patient ratio in the country well below the global average, the Centre is planning to put restrictions on the migration of doctors with a view to stopping the brain drain. Besides, the Government has also initiated several steps to further boost the medical education sector in the country, in collaboration with the Medical Council of India (MCI).

The current doctor-population ratio is approximately 1:2000, while the global ratio is 1:670.  To reach the desired target of 1:1000 at least, the country will require an additional 15.4 lakh doctors.  With a view to arresting the migration of Indian doctors to other countries, there is a proposal to put in place more curbs, if not a full scale ban, on the migration, sources said.

To facilitate setting up of more medical and nursing colleges and to increase the faculty in medical colleges, the Central Government has rationalized the respective norms in terms of teacher-students ratio, land requirement, bed strength, bed occupancy, maximum admission capacity and increase in age of teaching faculty, etc.

As many as 165 proposals have been received for setting up of new medical colleges during the last three years.   As regards nursing colleges, there is a proposal to set up 6 colleges of nursing at the sites of AIIMS like institutions.

“The norms for setting up of medical colleges have been relaxed in terms of requirement for land, faculty, staff, bed/bed strength, other infrastructure, etc.  Maximum intake capacity at MBBS level has been increased from 150 to 250.  Maximum age for appointment of faculty has been enhanced from 65 to 70 years.  DNB qualifications have been recognized for appointment to various faculty positions.  Teacher – student ratio has been relaxed to increase the seats at postgraduate level,’’ said a senior official.

According to the World Health Organisation, the number of physicians per 1,00,000 population for India is 70, at par with low-income countries. The situation is far worse in the public sector where just 20 doctors are available for 1,00,000 people.