Highlighting the decrepit state of the healthcare infrastructure in the country and the corresponding shortage of doctors, data reveals that there is only one government medical college seat for over 55,000 of population today. In fact, the current ratio is far below that in 1966 when there was one seat for every 37,000 persons. The sharp decline illustrates abject neglect on the part of the government for medical education. Even with private medical colleges included, the country only has one MBBS seat for every 26,042 people — not nearly enough to attain the WHO recommended standard of one doctor for every 600 persons.
The seats' shortfall is congruent with the huge dearth of medical professionals in the country, especially in rural areas. According to the Planning Commission, the public healthcare system faces a mammoth 76% shortage in doctors, 53% in nurses and 88% in specialist doctors. This means that a majority of the people do not have access to basic healthcare because primary and community healthcare centres are virtually defunct due to the lack of manpower. Meanwhile, frequent stories of cleaners and ward boys filling in for doctors highlight the deplorable condition even in district hospitals.
There is no denying that the country's healthcare infrastructure is in dire need of a massive overhaul. And strengthening medical educationis key to achieving this goal. Between 1951 and 1966, government investment in medical colleges had provided a significant fillip to the country`s overall healthcare system. Instead of forcing MBBS students to undertake rural postings now, it would do well to rapidly expand the number of MBBS seats and incentivise service in the countryside. Simultaneously, regulations for private medical colleges ought to be relaxed, accreditation norms updated and many more licences handed out. Otherwise, instead of harnessing its demographic dividend, the country will be hamstrung taking care of its sick.
nnew3670ed 13 Aug, 2013
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Source: http://www.educationnews.com/2013/08/13/boosting-medical-education-is-crucial-to-mitigating-shortage-of-doctors/
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