While there is just 1 doctor for 1700 people in India, there’s 1 for every 390 people in the US, 1 for every 230 in Russia and 1 for every 170 in Cuba. Even Syria has a better ratio than India at 1:700.

So the need for more doctors is evident and government has started to take steps to change this proportion.

New medical colleges will be set up in 58 districts, resulting in an increase of 5,800 MBBS seats in the country, Health and Family Welfare Minister J P Nadda said in Rajya Sabha on 15^th December.

These medical colleges are being established under a centrally sponsored scheme for ‘Establishment of Medical Colleges attached with existing District/Referral hospitals’, Nadda said in a written reply in the Parliament.

Criteria of selection for colleges would be the districts with hospitals/referral hospitals with bed strength of 200 or more and districts where there is no medical college and preference to under-served areas.

He also added, “In the first phase, total 58 districts have been identified. This initiative would result in increase of 5,800 MBBS seats in the country”.

In addition, to bridge the gap between demand and availability of human organs for transplantation, the government will also work towards creating a transplant facility in every medical college in the country.

Do you think this step will help improve the health and medical conditions in India?

Should there be a corresponding increase in PG seats to fulfill the demand for specialists?

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