National Skill Development Corporation sees demand for human resource requirement in the Indian healthcare sector to double from 35.9 lakh in 2013 to 74 lakh in 2022 to meet the market demand.

The healthcare sector in the country is expected to grow to Rs.9.64 lakh crore by 2017, but the government spend stands at less than 5 per cent of GDP, as compared to other developed countries. Out-of-pocket expenditure comprises about 92 per cent of private expenditure as compared to the international average of nearly 50 per cent, according to the report.

There are over 11 lakh allied health professionals in the country in the categories of nursing associates, sanitarians, medical assistants, medical equipment operators, optometrists, traditional and faith healers, physiotherapists, dieticians and dental assistants which is still short of the current demand, indicates the report.

There is a significant gap in the availability of allopathic doctors of 6.21 lakh and it is a trend that is likely to continue for the next five years. India accounts for over 7,50,000 registered Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (Ayush) practitioners. These numbers, when combined with the total number of physicians trained in allopathy, fulfil to an extent, the total requirement of medical practitioners required in the country, the report indicated.

There are only 356 registered medical education institutions. The total admission capacity is nearly 45,000 students at the undergraduate level and about 24,000 students at the post-graduate level in the country. Highly urbanised regions including NCR are heavily concentrated with healthcare facilities while rural regions remain underdeveloped.

According to Dilip Chenoy, managing director and chief executive officer, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), the country is one of the leading affordable destination for patients looking for best medical care at cost much lower than that of developed countries. We can further leverage our position as a reasonably priced and quality healthcare solution provider, thus catering to a greater proportion of world population. Hence there is a need for both qualitative and quantitative skill development initiatives in the healthcare sector. We also need to focus heavily on upgrading technical skills of the workforce for advanced healthcare services.”

“There is an urgent need to promote vocational training in the field of healthcare in rural and remote areas as well. We should look at tying up with the industry with additional support from the government in creating awareness around career options in healthcare sector through, career fairs, school education programmes etc,” he added.