Budget 2025: Addressing the shortage of doctors

"The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now."

2025 is a non-election year for the union government, I remain hopeful that the upcoming budget will focus on addressing the fundamental issues necessary to build a sustainable and prosperous nation.

The positive correlation between investment in healthcare and national productivity is well-established, and this effect is amplified in lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs) like India. In the numerous discussions I have had with healthcare leaders, a common concern has emerged: the shortage of allopathic doctors.

India currently has approximately 700 medical colleges, with around 110,000 MBBS seats. On average, this translates to approximately 160 seats per college. Given India’s population, the number of seats should perhaps be five times higher. Artificial restrictions on the number of seats have led to unnecessary hardship for citizens. In contrast, more than 1 million engineering graduates have significantly contributed to India’s emergence as an IT hub.

There are three potential solutions to address this issue:

1. One District, One Medical College: This scheme is already in place, but there are approximately 100 districts without any medical colleges. Establishing a new medical college requires an investment of around ?200 crore, meaning that approximately ?20,000 crore would be needed to cover the cost of creating these institutions. Alternatively, the private sector could be encouraged to fund the expansion.
2. Increasing the Number of Seats in Existing Colleges: In countries such as the United States, the intake of first-year medical students ranges from 270 to over 700 per institution. Indian medical colleges could gradually expand their intake, and the government could provide financial support to scale up these efforts, as a large portion of the infrastructure is already in place. A bridge funding of ?5,000 crore could yield results comparable to creating 100 new medical colleges.
3. Upgrading Existing Dental Colleges: India has more than 300 dental colleges, and these institutions could be upgraded to offer both MBBS and dental programs. This would allow for a more efficient use of existing infrastructure and resources, providing better returns on the budget allocation. A further ?5,000 crore in bridge funding could make a substantial difference.

There may not be a single solution, but a combination of these approaches could help alleviate the shortage of doctors. A more strategic allocation of the budget, focused on these initiatives, can lead to better outcomes for the nation’s healthcare system.

Prakash Singh is a healthcare professional, and views are personal.