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New Delhi, March 28, 2025 — In a recent response to a question raised in the Lok Sabha, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has shared detailed statistics on the availability of doctors across the country. As per the data provided, India has approximately 13.08 lakh (1.3 million) allopathic doctors registered with State Medical Councils and the National Medical Commission (NMC) as of February 2024.
Of these, an estimated 80% are actively engaged in medical practice, bringing the number of working allopathic doctors to around 10.46 lakh. This translates to a doctor-population ratio of 1:1,511, which is closer to the World Health Organization’s recommended ratio of 1:1,000 — though still short of the ideal.
The ministry also shared insights into other medical professionals in the country. India has:
- 5.96 lakh AYUSH doctors (practitioners of Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy)
- 3.5 lakh dental surgeons
- 36.1 lakh nurses
- 13 lakh Allied and Healthcare Professionals (AHPs)
Efforts to Strengthen the Medical Workforce
To further bridge the healthcare gap, the government has significantly expanded medical education infrastructure. As of February 2024, India has 706 medical colleges, with an annual intake capacity of 110,000 MBBS students — a massive increase from just 51,000 seats a decade ago.
Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya emphasized that while the numbers are improving, there remains an uneven distribution of healthcare professionals, especially in rural and remote areas. He reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening the medical workforce and enhancing access to quality healthcare across all regions.
Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available information shared by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in the Lok Sabha and reported by Medical Dialogues. The statistics and figures are accurate as of February 2024 and may be subject to change. Readers are advised to refer to official government sources for the most up-to-date information.
