Regarding healthcare/medical professionals in the country, there are 13,01,319 allopathic doctors registered with the State Medical Councils and the National Medical Commission (NMC) as on 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. Health is a State subject and the primary responsibility to fill the vacancies of health personnel in Government hospitals lies with the concerned State Government.
Further, data on Healthcare Workers who contacted COVID-19 is expected to be maintained by respective States/UTs. Government of India has given first priority to Health Care Workers for COVID-19 vaccination so that they are conferred full protection provided by vaccine against COVID-19. Covid vaccination in India started on 16th January 2021 and the first group taken up for this vaccination are the Healthcare Workers. As a matter of abundant precaution, for those Health Care Workers (HCWs) & Front Line Workers (FLWs) who have received two doses, another booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine started from 10th January 2022.
The Government has taken following steps to further increase the availability of doctors in the country. The number of UG seats have increased from 51,348 before 2014 to 89875 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 steps to increase the seats include: –
- Centrally Sponsored Scheme for establishment of 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 upgradation of Government Medical Colleges by construction of Super Specialty Blocks. A total of 75 projects have been approved and 55 have been completed.
- Under 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.
The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Bharti Pravin Pawar stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
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