The Government has taken the following steps in order to meet the shortage of doctors in the country:
- The ratio of teachers to students has been revised from 1:1 to 1:2 for all MD/MS disciplines and 1:1 to 1:3 in subjects of Anaesthesiology, Forensic Medicine, Radiotherapy, Medical Oncology and Surgical Oncology.
- DNB qualification has been recognized for appointment as faculty to take care of shortage of faculty.
- Enhancement of maximum intake capacity at MBBS level from 150 to 250.
- Enhancement of age limit for appointment/extension/re-employment against posts of teachers/dean/principal/ director in medical colleges from 65-70 years.
- Relaxation in the norms for setting up of a medical college in terms of requirement for land, faculty, staff, bed/bed strength and other infrastructure.
- Strengthening/upgradation of State Government Medical Colleges for starting new PG courses/Increase of PG seats with fund sharing between the Central and State Government in the ratio of 75:25.
- Establishment of new medical colleges by upgrading district/referral hospitals preferably in underserved districts of the country with fund sharing between the Central Government and States in the ratio of 90:10 for North-East/special category states and 75:25 for other states.
- Strengthening/upgradation of existing State Government/Central Government Medical Colleges to increase MBBS seats with fund sharing between the Central Government and States in the ratio of 90:10 for North-East/special category states and 70:30 for other states with the upper ceiling of the cost per MBBS pegged at Rs.1.20 crore.
- At present 56638 MBBS seats and 25346 PG seats are available in the country.
The Health Minister, Shri J P Nadda stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha here today.