India has 706 medical colleges, 2,268 nursing colleges at present; Doc-patient ratio at 1:834

New Delhi: As per the National Medical Commission (NMC) and Indian Nursing Council (INC), there are a total of 706 medical colleges and 2,268 nursing colleges in India as of now. Tamil Nadu has the highest number of medical colleges (74) while Karnataka tops the list of highest number of nursing colleges (367) in the country. Including both allopathic and AYUSH physicians, the doctor-population ratio in the country at present is 1:834.

The above statistics was shared by Minister of State for Health Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar in response to Rajya Sabha MP Elamaram Kareem’s questions (Question number 276) to the Minister of Health and Family Welfare recently regarding health infrastructure and manpower in the country.

The MP’s questions for the health minister

The MP asked about the number of medical colleges and nursing colleges in each state at present, the number of doctors and nurses who are graduating in the country every year, the percentage of healthcare workers who are going abroad after acquiring qualification in the country, the details of the doctor-patient, nurse-patient ratio in the country currently and the actions taken by government to improve this ratio. The MP also asked about the manner in which the government is planning to ensure better facilities and salaries for these health care workers in order to avail their services in the country.

Increase in medical & nursing colleges, MBBS, PG seats over a decade

In reply to the MP’s questions, Minister of State for Health Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar said, “The Government has increased the number of medical colleges and subsequently increased MBBS seats. There is an increase of 82% in medical colleges from 387 before 2014 to 706 as in 2023. Further, there is an increase of 112% in MBBS seats from 51,348 prior to 2014 to 1,08,940 as of now, there is also an increase of 127% in PG seats from 31,185 before 2014 to 70,674 now.

As per the NMC and Indian Nursing Council, there are a total of 706 medical colleges and 2,268 nursing colleges in the country as of now.”

“A total of 1,08,940 MBBS students and 1,20,585 nurses will graduate in the academic year 2023-24. However, no centralized data is maintained by the Ministry about these health workers who are going abroad after acquiring qualification in the country,” added the Minister of State for Health.

Doctor-population, nurse-population ratio

There are 13,08,009 allopathic doctors registered with the State Medical Councils and the National Medical Commission (NMC) as on June, 2022. Assuming 80% availability of registered allopathic doctors and 5.65 lakh AYUSH doctors, the doctor-population ratio in the country is 1:834. Further, as per the Indian Nursing Council (INC) records, there are 36.14 lakh registered nursing personnel in the country resulting in a nurse to population ratio of 2.10 nurses per 1,000 population.

Steps to improve the health infrastructure & manpower

Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for establishment of new medical colleges by upgrading district/ referral hospital under which 157 new medical colleges have been approved, out of which 108 are already functional.

CSS for strengthening/ upgradation of existing State Government/ Central Government medical colleges to increase the number of MBBS (UG) and PG seats.

Under “Upgradation of Government medical colleges by construction of Super Specialty Blocks” of PMSSY Scheme, a total of 75 projects have been approved, of which 64 projects have been completed.

Under the Central Sector Scheme for setting up of new AIIMS, 22 AIIMS have been approved. Undergraduate courses have started in 19 of these.

Under the CSS, nursing colleges will be established in conjunction with the approved 157 medical colleges.

Relaxation of norms and age limits

Relaxation in the norms for setting up of medical college in terms of requirement for faculty, staff, bed strength and other infrastructure has been provided.

DNB qualification has been recognized for appointment as teaching faculty to take care of the shortage of faculty.

Enhancement of age limits for appointment/ extension/ re-employment against posts of teachers/dean/principal/ director in medical colleges has been extended upto 70 years.

The requirement of land for School/College of Nursing and Hostels has been relaxed. Relaxation in the norms of having a 100-bed parent hospital for hilly and tribal areas has been done.

The student teacher ratio for M.Sc (Nursing) programme has been relaxed from 1:5 to 1:10. Student patient ratio for Nursing institutions has been relaxed from 1:5 to 1:3. Maximum number of 100 seats for Nursing College will be given to parent hospitals with 300 beds without insisting for a Medical College.

Distance from school/college to hospital has been relaxed.

Eligibility criteria for admission to diploma and degree courses have been relaxed.

Relaxation in norms has been done for opening M.Sc (Nursing) programme by allowing Super Specialty Hospitals to start M.Sc. (Nursing) without having an under graduate programme.

Committee to look into conducive working conditions & payment issues

The government will ensure a conducive working environment to the health professionals in order to enhance patient care and contribute substantially to the overall healthcare outcomes.

A Committee was constituted on February 2016, as per the directions of Supreme Court to look into the issues of pay and working conditions of the nurses working in private hospitals/ institutes. The recommendations of the Committee were forwarded to all States/ UTs.

State-wise total number of medical and nursing colleges

As per NMC data, top five states with the highest number of medical colleges are Tamil Nadu (74), Karnataka (70), Maharashtra (68), Uttar Pradesh (68) and Telangana (56). Andhra Pradesh has 37 medical colleges.

As per INC data, top five states with highest number of nursing colleges are Karnataka (367), Tamil Nadu (196), Uttar Pradesh (170), Rajasthan (166) and Madhya Pradesh (156). Telangana has 88 nursing colleges while Andhra Pradesh has 138.

There are no medical colleges in the Union Territories of Daman-Diu and Lakshadweep while there are no nursing colleges in Andaman and Nicobar Island.