One doctor available for every 1,681 citizens in the country

December 2015 

There is one doctor available for every 1,681 citizens in the country. However, if allopathic and AUM (ayurvedic, unani and homeopathic) streams are considered together, then the doctor population ratio stands at 1:893. In a reply in Rajya Sabha, Union Health Minister JP Nadda said that as on June 30, 2015, there were 9,59,198 doctors registered with the State Medical Councils and the Medical Council of India. "Assuming 80 per cent availability, it is estimated that around 7.67 lakh doctors may be actually available for the active service. It gives a doctor-population ratio of 1:1681," he said. Besides, there are 6.77 lakh AUM doctors in the country, the Minister said, adding if allopathic and AUM are considered together, "it gives a doctor population ratio of 1:893". To augment the availability of doctors in the country, he said the government has taken various measures such as relaxation in the norms for setting up a medical college, strengthening or up gradation of existing state and central government medical colleges to increase MBBS seats, and establishment of new medical colleges by upgrading district/referral hospitals preferably in underserved districts of the country.