NEET Admissions and MBBS Seats Rise 66% in Five Years; India’s Doctor-Population Ratio at 1:811

Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana have the highest number of MBBS seats in India, collectively accounting for over 52,000 seats in 2023-24, as per government data.

India has witnessed a 66% increase in MBBS seats over the last five years, with the total number rising from 80,312 in 2019-20 to 1,33,083 in 2023-24, as per data presented by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in the Lok Sabha. The ministry also noted that the doctor-population ratio in India now stands at 1:811, factoring in both allopathic and AYUSH practitioners, though it remains below the WHO-recommended 1:1000.

Expansion of Medical Colleges and MBBS Seats

The country has seen a significant rise in medical colleges, increasing from 529 in 2019-20 to 706 in 2023-24, aimed at enhancing medical education capacity and addressing the shortage of healthcare professionals.

NEET Remains Mandatory for Medical Admissions

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) continues to be the uniform admission test for undergraduate, postgraduate, and super-specialty medical courses in all medical institutions governed by the National Medical Commission Act, 2019. The government has not announced any changes to the NEET examination system, despite discussions on accessibility for students from economically weaker backgrounds.

Efforts to Make Medical Education Affordable

The ministry also outlined measures to regulate MBBS fees, ensuring greater accessibility. Government medical colleges continue to offer heavily subsidized education, while the National Medical Commission (NMC) has framed guidelines regulating fees for 50% of seats in private medical institutions and deemed universities. These guidelines, issued on February 3, 2022, aim to make medical education more affordable across the country.

Doctor-Patient Ratio: Scope for Improvement

The National Medical Commission (NMC) reported that there are 13,86,150 registered allopathic doctors and 7,51,768 registered AYUSH practitioners in India. Assuming 80% of these practitioners are actively available, the doctor-population ratio stands at 1:811. This marks an improvement but remains below the WHO standard of 1:1000, highlighting the need for continued efforts to bridge the healthcare gap.

Future Outlook

With a continued focus on expanding medical education infrastructure and ensuring affordability, India aims to produce more medical professionals to strengthen its healthcare system. However, discussions around reforming NEET to enhance accessibility and further increasing medical seats remain key points of deliberation among policymakers.

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