Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare addressed Lok Sabha question 1117 regarding the need to increase medical seats to meet WHO and NMC doctor-population ratios. The government has increased the number of medical colleges and UG/PG seats since 2014. Schemes are in place to address geographical disparities in medical education.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Increase in Medical Seats and Colleges:**
* Medical colleges increased from 387 to 780 since 2014.
* Undergraduate (UG) seats increased from 51,348 to 1,15,900 since 2014.
* Postgraduate (PG) seats increased from 31,185 to 74,306 since 2014.
* **Doctor-Population Ratio:**
* There are 13,86,157 registered allopathic doctors.
* There are 7,51,768 registered practitioners in the AYUSH system.
* The estimated doctor-population ratio is 1:811, assuming 80% availability of registered practitioners in both systems.
* **Infrastructure and Faculty Requirements:**
* MSR2023 specifies minimum infrastructure and faculty requirements based on student intake.
* Department-wise bed strength corresponding to the number of seats is detailed in an annexure.
* **Schemes to Address Geographical Disparities:**
* Centrally Sponsored Scheme for establishing new medical colleges by upgrading district referral hospitals: 131 new medical colleges are functional out of 157 approved.
* Centrally Sponsored Scheme for strengthening/upgrading existing State/Central Government Medical Colleges to increase MBBS and PG seats.
* Upgradation of Government Medical Colleges by constructing Super Specialty Blocks under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY): 71 out of 75 projects are complete.
* Central Sector Scheme for setting up new AIIMS: 22 AIIMS have been approved, with undergraduate courses started in 19.
* **Bed Requirements:**
* The annexure provides bed requirements for various departments based on MBBS seat capacity (50, 100, 150, 200, 250).
* Specific bed allocations are provided for General Medicine, Pediatrics, Dermatology, Psychiatry, General Surgery, Orthopedics, ENT, Ophthalmology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and ICUs.
* Details on OPD day requirements and OT specifications are provided.
* Hospitals with 100 or more beds for General Surgery should dedicate at least 10 beds to Pediatric Surgery.
Impact Analysis:
* **Medical Colleges:**
* Impact: Must adhere to MSR2023 guidelines for infrastructure and faculty. New and upgraded colleges benefit from government schemes.
* Action Required: Implement infrastructure upgrades and faculty recruitment as per MSR2023; utilize available central schemes to expand and improve facilities.
* **National Medical Commission (NMC):**
* Impact: Responsible for overseeing and regulating medical education standards and ratios.
* Action Required: Continue to monitor and enforce the implementation of the guidelines and schemes to ensure quality and address disparities.
* **Ministry of AYUSH:**
* Impact: Practitioners contribute to the overall doctor-population ratio.
* Action Required: Continue to provide data on registered practitioners.
* **State and Central Governments:**
* Impact: Responsible for implementing and utilizing central schemes to improve medical education infrastructure.
* Action Required: Participate in and effectively manage the centrally sponsored schemes for establishing and upgrading medical colleges.
* **Students (Undergraduate and Postgraduate):**
* Impact: Increased availability of seats and improved infrastructure in medical colleges.
* Action Required: N/A
Key Entities Referenced
World Health Organization: A specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health.
National Medical Council: The regulatory body for medical education and medical professionals in India.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: A ministry in the Government of India responsible for public health in India.
AYUSH: The Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy, a governmental body in India purposed with developing education and research in alternative medicine systems.
UGMSR: Under Graduate Medical Education Regulations
MSR2023: Medical Council of India (MCI) Minimum Standard Requirements for Medical Colleges, 2023
Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana: A flagship scheme by the Indian government to provide quality and affordable healthcare.
All India Institute of Medical Sciences: A group of autonomous public medical colleges of higher education under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION No.1117
TO BE ANSWERED ON25THJULY, 2025
NEEDTOINCREASEMEDICALSEATS
1117.SHRIKALYANBANERJEE:
Will the Ministerof HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) whether it is a fact that there is a need to significantly increase medical seats in both
undergraduate and postgraduate courses, for achieving the WHO recommended doctor
populationratioof 1:1000andthe National Medical Council (NMC's)reported ratioof 1:856;
(b) if so, the detailsthereofalong with the targetandpresent status thereof;
(c) the total patient bed capacity prescribed in the UG-MSR and the consideration of
Government for Quality of Medical Colleges in India for hospitals and newly established
medicalcolleges therefor,department-wise; and
(d) the details of report including the manner in which these adjustments will address
geographic andregionaldisparities thereto?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY
WELFARE
(SMT. ANUPRIYAPATEL)
(a) & (b): The government has increased number of Medical Colleges, Under Graduate(UG)
and Post Graduate(PG) seats. There is an increase in Medical Colleges from 387 to 780; UG
seats from 51,348to1,15,900andPGseats from 31,185to74,306from 2014 to ason date.
As per information provided by National Medical Commission (NMC), there are 13,86,157
registered allopathic doctors. The Ministry of AYUSH has informed that there are 7,51,768
registered practitioners in the AYUSH system of medicine. Assuming that 80% of registered
practitioners in both the allopathic and AYUSH systems are available, the doctor-population
ratiointhe countryisestimated tobe 1:811.
(c) & (d): The Guidelines for Undergraduate Courses, as outlined in the Establishment of
New Medical Institutions, Starting of New Medical Courses, Increase of Seats for Existing
Courses & Assessment and Rating Regulations 2023 (MSR-2023), specifies the minimum
infrastructure and faculty requirements based on student intake. As per MSR, department
wise bedstrength corresponding tonumberof seats isat Annexure.To address geographic and regional disparities, the Government is implementing following
schemeswith preference tounderserved areasandaspirational districts:
Centrally Sponsored Scheme for establishment of new medical college by upgrading
district/ referral hospital under which 131 new medical colleges are functional out of
157approvedmedicalcolleges.
Centrally Sponsored Scheme for strengthening/ upgradation of existing State
Government/Central Government Medical Collegestoincrease MBBS andPGseats.
Under “Upgradation of Government Medical Colleges by construction of Super
Specialty Blocks” of Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) scheme,
a totalof 75projectshave beenapproved,of which 71 projectsare complete.
Under the Central Sector Scheme for setting up of new AIIMS, 22 AIIMS have been
approved.Undergraduate courses have beenstarted in19of these.
****Annexure referred to in reply to Parts (c) and (d) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1117
for replyon 25.07.2025.
ANNEXURE
BEDS FOR MBBS SEATCAPACITY 50 100 150 200 250
GENERALMEDICINE 50 100 150 220 225
PEDIATRICS 25 50 75 100 125
DERMATOLOGY 5 10 10 10 10
PSYCHIATRY 5 10 15 20 25
GENERALSURGERY* 50 100 150 150 200
ORTHOPEDICS 20 40 60 80 100
OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGY(ENT) 10 20 20 30 30
OPHTALMOLOGY 10 20 20 30 30
OBSTETRICS ANDGYNAECOLOGY 25 50 75 100 125
ICUs 20 20 30 30 30
TOTAL 220 420 605 770 900
OPD/DAY 400 800 1200 1600 2000
MAJOR OT 4 7 9 10 11
MINOR OT 1foreachsurgicalspecialty
*For hospitals with 100 or more beds dedicated for Gen. Surgery, at least 10% shall be
dedicatedtoPediatrics Surgery.