India’s healthcare system is at a crucial turning point. In a recent policy discussion hosted by the Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP), Dr. V.K. Paul, Member (Health) of NITI Aayog, raised strong concerns about India’s current doctor shortage and outdated medical education system. He shared a bold vision to transform healthcare delivery by 2040 and ensure that India becomes a developed, health-secure nation.
Let’s break down the key points Dr. Paul shared — and what they mean for India’s future.
1. One Doctor Is Not Enough
India currently aims to meet the WHO standard of 1 doctor per 1,000 people, but Dr. Paul believes this is not good enough. For a nation aspiring to become a global leader, he proposes a new goal:
➡️ 3 doctors per 1,000 people by 2040.
He emphasized that achieving this will require a massive expansion in medical education, including more colleges, better training, and faster recruitment.
2. Severe Shortage of Specialists
Dr. Paul revealed alarming data on how slowly India is producing specialists:
- General Surgeons: At the current rate, it will take 34 years to meet global standards.
- Psychiatrists: India has 0.7 per 1 lakh people, way below the global average.
- Cardiologists: If no action is taken, we’ll need 82 years to catch up.
He stressed that this isn’t just about numbers—it’s about the country’s health resilience.
3. Broken Internship and Outdated Curriculum
India’s MBBS internship and curriculum are not preparing doctors for the real world. Dr. Paul asked:
“How can a student become confident in managing diabetes or schizophrenia with just three weeks of exposure?”
He proposed:
- Longer training in internal medicine, geriatrics, psychiatry, and chronic disease management.
- Reforming internships to give hands-on, meaningful learning in these areas.
4. Mainstream Family and Emergency Medicine
One of Dr. Paul’s biggest concerns is the absence of family doctors.
“If we continue on the current path, we’ll have only specialists by 2035, and no generalists.”
India needs Family Medicine to manage:
- Chronic illnesses like diabetes, asthma, and heart disease
- Elderly care
- Mental health
- Primary care in rural areas
Yet, there are fewer than 100 Family Medicine postgraduate seats in the country.
He urged the National Medical Commission (NMC) to act quickly—by adding more Family Medicine seats and using models like AIIMS, where Family Medicine is taught without needing a separate department.
Similarly, Emergency Medicine, which is the first point of care for many patients, is grossly underdeveloped. Most government medical colleges don’t have proper emergency departments or senior doctors supervising cases.
Dr. Paul proposed:
- Mandatory emergency departments in all new medical colleges.
- Better staffing and training in this crucial area.
5. Health as a Driver of Economic Growth
Dr. Paul reminded everyone that a healthy population boosts productivity, innovation, and national growth.
“Healthcare is not a cost. It’s an investment in human capital.”
He called for:
- Better coordination between ministries
- Private sector participation
- A national movement to treat health as a pillar of development
What This Means for You
At The Doctorpreneur Academy, we believe Dr. Paul’s message is timely and important.
Doctors today need more than just clinical knowledge. They need leadership, public health insight, and entrepreneurial skills to serve communities and build sustainable healthcare models.
If you are a doctor, student, or healthcare enthusiast looking to contribute to this change, we encourage you to explore our learning platform. We provide training, mentorship, and tools to help doctors take charge of their careers—and the future of Indian healthcare.
✅ Call to Action:
Let’s shape the future of Indian healthcare—together.
Visit The Doctorpreneur Academy and learn how you can upskill, lead change, and become part of a powerful movement for better health in India.
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