In a major step toward strengthening India’s healthcare system and addressing the shortage of medical professionals, the Union Health Ministry has announced plans to add 60,000 MBBS seats over the next four years. The initiative is aimed at expanding medical education infrastructure and improving healthcare access in underserved regions.
Currently, India has 1,18,190 MBBS seats and 74,306 postgraduate seats across medical colleges nationwide. According to the National Medical Commission (NMC), there are 13,86,150 registered allopathic doctors, while the AYUSH Ministry records 7,51,768 registered AYUSH practitioners. Assuming 80% are actively practicing, the doctor-to-population ratio stands at approximately 1:811.
Key Initiatives to Boost Medical Education
1. Expansion of Medical Colleges
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131 out of 157 new medical colleges are now operational, established by upgrading existing district and referral hospitals through a centrally sponsored scheme.
2. Increase in Medical Seats
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The government is scaling up infrastructure in existing State and Central Government medical institutions to increase both MBBS and PG seats.
3. Super-Specialty Facilities
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Under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), 75 super-specialty projects were approved; 71 have been completed.
4. AIIMS Network Growth
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22 AIIMS institutions have been approved across the country, with undergraduate programs already underway in 19.
Strengthening Rural Healthcare
The government is also focusing on bridging the healthcare gap in rural and remote areas through several targeted measures:
1. Family Adoption Program (FAP)
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Now integrated into the MBBS curriculum, this initiative assigns medical students to adopt families in villages to gain direct exposure to rural healthcare needs.
2. District Residency Program
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Postgraduate students in their 2nd or 3rd year are deployed to district hospitals for hands-on clinical training.
3. Incentives for Rural Service
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Hard area allowances, accommodation facilities, and financial bonuses are provided to doctors working in rural settings, especially specialists performing critical procedures like C-sections.
4. Flexible Recruitment Models
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Programs like “You Quote, We Pay” enable states to offer customized compensation packages to attract and retain skilled specialists in underserved areas.
5. Non-Monetary Benefits
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Priority PG admissions, better living conditions, and other perks are being introduced to motivate long-term service in remote regions.
6. Skill Development Initiatives
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Under NHM and NRHM, doctors are provided with multi-skill training and continuous education to address specialist shortages and improve overall service delivery.
These updates were shared by Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Smt. Anupriya Patel, in a written statement to the Rajya Sabha.
