Updated on 14/07/25
In 2025, India will see a massive increase in the number of MBBS seats across about 720-780 medical colleges, from only about 51,000 seats in 2014 to over 1.10 lakh.
However, many of these seats remain vacant, resulting in stiff competition for government positions and limited job security for new graduates.
India currently has about 16 lakh allopathic doctors, but huge disparities persist. Urban areas are still overcrowded, while rural areas are severely short of doctors, according to a leading doctor.
Despite the expansion of infrastructure, doubling the number of government medical colleges, and expansion under schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana and Ayushman Bharat, the healthcare system is struggling with unequal distribution, contractual employment models, and underutilization of newly created educational capacity.
Number of Doctors and Future Requirements
According to a Times of India report, by 2025, India will have about 1.6 million allopathic doctors (MBBS and MD) registered with state medical councils and the National Medical Commission (NMC).
But just because there are more doctors, it doesn’t mean everyone will have equal and easy access to healthcare. The reality is that most doctors are concentrated in cities, which are already overcrowded, while many rural areas face a severe shortage of doctors and resources.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has no set ratio for “doctors only.” According to it, there should be at least one healthcare worker, be it a doctor, nurse, or midwife, for every 1,000 people. Some health policy experts believe that India will need more than 2 million additional doctors by 2030 to ensure equitable access to healthcare across the country. However, this is just an estimate, not an official WHO target.
Read this PDF: The health workforce in India
Doctor-Patient Ratio and State Variations
Unemployment of Doctors in India
As of July 2024, there are about 13.86 lakh allopathic doctors registered with the state medical councils and the National Medical Commission (NMC) in India. If we assume that about 80% of these are actively employed, the number of doctors available will be around 11.09 lakh.
Additionally, there are about 5.65 lakh AYUSH doctors (trained in Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy). Combining these figures, the doctor-population ratio in India is about 1:836, which is actually better than the World Health Organization (WHO) standard of 1:1000.
Availability of Doctors till 2024
The Indian government has expanded medical education significantly in recent years. To increase the availability of doctors, the number of medical colleges has increased by 88%, from 387 before 2014 to 731 in 2024. Similarly, the number of MBBS seats has also increased by 118%, from 51,348 to 112,112. The number of postgraduate seats has also increased by 133%, from 31,185 to 72,627.
Major Government Schemes
- 157 new medical colleges have been approved under the centrally sponsored scheme, of which 109 colleges have already become operational.
- Existing government medical colleges are being upgraded to increase the number of MBBS and PG seats.
- 75 super-specialty block projects have been approved under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), of which 66 have been completed.
- The government has set up 22 new AIIMS institutes, of which undergraduate courses have started in 19 institutes.
- DNB (Diploma of National Board) has been recognized for faculty posts to address the shortage of medical teachers.
- The retirement age of medical teachers, deans, and principals has been increased to 70 years to ensure the availability of experienced staff.
Doctor-Patient Ratio in India (by July 2024)
Total registered allopathic doctors:
138,6136 (13.86 lakh) doctors registered with state medical councils and National Medical Commission (NMC)
Estimated active availability:
- Assuming 80% availability, around 11.09 lakh active allopathic doctors
- AYUSH doctors: around 565,000 (5.65 lakhs)
Doctor-population ratio:
- 1:836 (one doctor for every 836 people)
This is better than the World Health Organization standard of 1:1000.
Causes of Doctor Unemployment
1. Lack of government jobs
According to the Indian Medical Association (IMA), around 1.5 lakh junior doctors are unemployed in the country. Lack of new jobs in the government sector and the temporary recruitment of doctors are the main reasons for this problem [2].
Real voices from the field
Here’s a medical professional who shared a post on his Instagram account giving a real-life perspective.
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2. Uneven distribution in urban and rural areas
The distribution of doctors is higher in urban areas, while there is a huge shortage of doctors in rural areas. For example, the doctor-to-population ratio in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka is 1.01 and 0.78, respectively, while in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, this ratio is 0.15 and 0.25, respectively.
3. Uncertainty of employment in the private sector
Many doctors in private hospitals work on a daily wage or short-term contracts. With limited benefits and a lack of job security, these roles often lead to professional dissatisfaction. In addition, many private hospitals are not registered under schemes such as Ayushman Bharat, increasing pressure on government hospitals and reducing employment options.
Possible Solutions
1. Improve the quality of medical education
Along with the increase in the number of medical colleges, it is also necessary to ensure the quality of education. Many new colleges face a shortage of trained faculty and infrastructure issues, which may compromise the quality of their medical education.
2. Incentive for service in rural areas
To encourage the service of doctors in rural areas, it is proposed to give additional marks for rural service in the NEET PG exam. This move may help increase the number of doctors in rural areas.
3. Establishment of National Employment Exchange
The IMA is planning to set up a National Employment Exchange for doctors, which will help provide them with employment opportunities [3].
Conclusion
Unemployment of doctors has become a serious problem in India, which is a matter of concern not only for the doctors but also for the healthcare system of the country. The government and related institutions should pay attention to this issue and find a solution through proper policies.
Encouraging service in rural areas, improving the quality of medical education, and creating new employment opportunities can be important steps in this direction.
(Disclaimer: The statistics mentioned are based on publicly available data and reports. Exact figures may vary. This article is for informational purposes and is not professional career advice.)
FAQ’s
Q1: How many doctors are expected to be unemployed in India by 2025?
Ans: According to the IMA, about 150,000 junior doctors are currently unemployed.
Q2: What is the requirement for doctors in India?
Ans: India needs an additional 20.7 lakh doctors to achieve the WHO standard of 1:1000 doctor-to-population ratio by 2030.
Q3: How can the shortage of doctors in rural areas be addressed?
Ans: The number of doctors in rural areas can be increased through incentives such as giving extra marks in the NEET PG exam for rural service and providing better salaries.
Q4: What is the condition of doctors in private hospitals?
Ans: In many private hospitals, doctors are appointed temporarily and have to work on a daily wage, which is unstable and insecure.
Q5: What steps is the government taking to address this problem?
Ans: The government has increased the number of medical colleges and MBBS seats, and the IMA plans to set up a national employment exchange.
I am Manish Gupta – a pharmacy graduate from PSIT Kanpur and the founder & CEO of Medicovada. Medicovada is a health and wellness blogging platform that promotes evidence-based information on natural lifestyle and preventive care.
