Department related parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare has submitted One Hundred Fifty Seventh report on quality of medical education in India on 9th Feb.The primary objective of the Committee behind identifying the subject "Quality of Medical Education in India" was to find areas of improvement to ensure that medical graduates are well-equipped to navigate the evolving landscape of healthcare delivery.

The Committee noted  that the current situation regarding medical seats both in UG and PG in our country is a critical issue that warrants immediate attention. With an annual influx of approximately 2 million aspiring medical students at UG and only 1/20 times available seats, the demand far exceeds the availability of seats, similarly, the number of available seats at PG level is far less than the demand. The Committee acknowledges the urgency of addressing this challenge while maintaining the quality of medical education at its highest standard. To address this issue effectively, several measures can be taken,the committee noted.
The committee has suggested that first and foremost, there is a need to significantly increase medical seats in both undergraduate and postgraduate courses. The government's existing scheme, which focuses on the establishment of new medical colleges attached to district or referral hospitals, can be instrumental in achieving this goal. By expanding this initiative, the Government can create more opportunities for aspiring medical students.

The Committee has  further recommended  that it is essential to make optimal use of the existing infrastructure. Ensuring that all available resources and facilities are utilized efficiently can help accommodate a larger number ofstudents without compromising the quality of education. Additionally, streamlining the admission process by implementing a standardized national entrance examination can improve fairness and transparency in seat allocation.Encouraging private investment in medical education is another avenue to explore. Providing incentives and regulatory support to private institutions willing to establish medical colleges can not only increase seat availability but also introduce healthy competition and innovation in medical education. The Committee also recommends the Ministry leverage technology for distance learning and organise virtual classrooms that can be a supplementary solutionto address the shortage of seats, allowing a more significant number of students to access medical education without overburdening physical infrastructure.

Imbalance in Distribution of Medical Colleges
 The committee noted that  states with larger populations should have more medical colleges as it aligns with the principle of ensuring that healthcare and medical educationresources are proportionate to the population's needs. States with higher populations often face increased healthcare demands, and having more medical colleges can help address these needs, providing access to medical care and educational opportunities for a more significant number of residents. Other factors, such as the distribution of healthcare facilities, the prevalence of diseases, and thesocio-economic conditions of the population, must also be considered to ensure equitable healthcare access and medical education opportunities for all citizens.

Dr Raj Shekhar Yadav, State Convenor of United Private Clinics & Hospitals Association of Rajasthan (UPCHAR) says that its strange how the committee has drawn inference on need for more medical seats.Unemployment has become a worrying issue among doctors and the report itself mentions that India has already acheived WHO recommended doctor- patient ratio.There is a need to address imbalance in distribution of doctors among various states of India rather than producing more doctors without giving them adequate employment oppartunities. MBBS is a lenghty course,students are paying exorbitant fee.Valuable years of their lives must not be sacrificed if we cant provide them suitable employment in future.

To access the complete report, click here-

ONE HUNDRED FIFTY SEVENTH REPORT ON QUALITY OF MEDICAL EDUCATION IN INDIA