9 Dec 2024 • India has doubled its medical colleges and significantly expanded MBBS seats, with institutions rising from 387 in 2014 to 780 in 2024 - a 102% increase - according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

• The number of MBBS seats has jumped 130%, from 51,348 to 1,18,137, enhancing the doctor-population ratio to 1:811, surpassing the WHO benchmark of 1:1000, Health Minister J.P. Nadda reported in Parliament.
• Government initiatives, including upgrading district hospitals and establishing new AIIMS campuses, have boosted medical education infrastructure.
• Among 157 sanctioned colleges, 131 are operational, and 19 of 22 new AIIMS offer undergraduate programs.
• To address faculty shortages, the government has recognized DNB qualifications and raised faculty retirement age to 70.
• PM Narendra Modi recently pledged 75,000 additional medical seats in the next five years to further strengthen healthcare.

Source: India Today | Read Full Story