There is one doctor for every 893 patients in the country if allopathic doctors and those practising Ayurveda, Unani and Homeopathy streams are considered together, Lok Sabha was informed today.
In a written reply, Minister of State for Health Faggan Singh Kulaste said there as 9.59 lakh registered allopathic doctors in the country and 6.77 lakh Ayurveda, Unani and Homeopathy (AUH) doctors.
“Assuming 80 per cent availability of doctors, it is estimated that around 7.67 lakh (allopathic) doctors may be actually available for service. It gives a doctor is to population ratio of 1:1681. “If the allopathic and AUH streams are considered together, it gives a doctor population ratio of 1: 893,” the Minister said replying a question on whether the government has taken note of the World Health Organisation (WHO) report which stated that large number of allopathic doctors in the country do not have medical qualification and lower national level of density of all doctors, nurses and midwives.