The National Medical Register (NMR) reflects a total of 13.9 lakh registered allopathic doctors; however, only 996 are actively serving within the NMR. This discrepancy raises critical questions about the distribution and accessibility of medical professionals across different regions and highlights potential challenges in healthcare delivery within the NMR.
As of late 2024, data from the National Medical Commission (NMC) indicated that there were 1,386,145 allopathic doctors registered with State Medical Councils throughout India. While this figure appears substantial, the availability and distribution of these doctors are not uniform. The state of Maharashtra, for example, has the highest number of registered doctors, followed by Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. This concentration of medical professionals in certain states suggests a disparity in healthcare access for populations in other regions.
The Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare has addressed concerns about the MBBS doctor-population ratio in the country, outlining steps taken to improve it. These include increasing the number of medical colleges and MBBS seats. There has been a significant increase in medical colleges, from 387 before 2014 to 780. Similarly, MBBS seats have increased by 130% during the same period, reaching 118,137. Postgraduate seats have also seen a substantial rise.
Despite these efforts to increase the overall number of medical professionals, the relatively small number of doctors actively practicing in NMR underscores the complexities of healthcare workforce management. Several factors may contribute to this disparity. One potential reason is that many registered doctors may not be actively practicing medicine. Some may have retired, pursued alternative careers, or moved abroad. Additionally, geographical maldistribution could mean that even active doctors are concentrated in urban areas, leaving rural or remote regions underserved.
The Indian government has acknowledged the importance of addressing the shortage of medical professionals and has implemented several strategies to improve the doctor-population ratio. These strategies include establishing new medical colleges by upgrading district hospitals and constructing super-specialty blocks in government medical colleges. Furthermore, the establishment of new AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) institutions and the implementation of programs like the Family Adoption Programme in the MBBS curriculum aim to improve healthcare access in rural areas.
The National Medical Commission (NMC) has also introduced the District Residency Programme (DRP), which requires postgraduate medical students to undergo a three-month posting and training in district hospitals. This initiative aims to strengthen healthcare delivery in underserved areas by providing these hospitals with additional medical staff and expertise.
While the overall doctor-population ratio in India has improved and is better than the WHO standard of 1:1000, the significant difference between the total number of registered allopathic doctors and those actively serving in NMR highlights the need for more targeted interventions. These interventions should focus on addressing geographical maldistribution, encouraging doctors to practice in underserved areas, and ensuring that registered medical professionals are actively engaged in the healthcare system. Further investigation is needed to fully understand the reasons behind the discrepancy and to develop effective strategies to ensure equitable healthcare access for all citizens.
