BioVoice News April 2017 Issue 11 Volume 1 | Page 85

that “an all-time record number of over 4,000 PG medical seats have been approved by Government of India in various medical colleges and hospitals for the academic session 2017-18 this year, taking the total number of PG seats available to 35,117.” The Health Minister added that of the total increase, 2,046 seats are in medical colleges. Looking at the need to increase PG seats in clinical subjects, the Government had decided to amend the teacher- student ratio in clinical subjects in government medical colleges. This change alone has resulted in the creation of 1,137 extra seats in 71 colleges. Many others out of the total of 212 government colleges are sending their proposals and it is expected that at least 1000 more seats can be added during the month of March 2017, Mr Nadda stated. The number of patients visiting three Central Government Hospitals viz. Safdarjung Hospital, Dr RML Hospital and LHMC and associated Hospitals for treatment is much larger as compared to their handling capacity in terms of number of beds, manpower and other resources. Despite availability of huge infrastructure and other services in these Hospitals, there is a waiting period for certain procedures due to the ever increasing pressure on infrastructure and available manpower in these hospitals, which varies from Department to Department in these Hospitals. As per information provided by Medical Council of India, there are a total 9,88,922 allopathic doctors registered with the State Medical Council/ Medical Council of India as on June 30, 2016. Assuming 80 percent availability, it is estimated that around 7.91 lakh doctors may be actually available for active service. It gives a doctor- population ratio of 1:1668 as per current population estimate of 1.32 billion. Medical Teachers’ Association protests over new rules on diagnostic laboratory Close to 10 lakh doctors for 1.32 billion people in India While many corporate hospitals and private diagnostic laboratories in the country have Medical M.Sc. postgraduates interpreting and signing laboratory test reports, the Clinical Establishments (Central Government) Rules make it mandatory that all diagnostic laboratories should have doctors (registered with MCI or State Medical Council) to do the task. The implementation of these rules in two States recently—Rajasthan and Jharkhand—is making BIOVOICENEWS.COM 85