Adopt 'medical divide' concept, minister suggests MCI, DCI

Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers H N Ananth Kumar on Sunday advocated several reforms in the policies of medical and dental council of India.

Addressing the gathering during valedictory of ‘Me De Vision-2016, a two-day all India medical and dental students conference, organised jointly by Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), JSS University and Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement (SVYM), the minister said, “Like in the field of information technology, where ‘digital divide’ exists, the aforementioned councils should think of a concept of ‘medical divide’. Both State and Central governments should support it.”

Continuing, the minister said, “Reforms should be brought in the areas of representation, institution, geographical limitations and also at the implementation level with the cooperation of Medical Council of India (MCI) and Dental Council of India (DCI).”

He also promised to bring the same to the notice of both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Health Minister J P Nadda. Besides, recommendations of the two-day meet will also be forwarded to them.

The minister also suggested for incorporating global standards while designing medical and dental curriculum.

Giving an account of available manpower in the realm of health service, the minister described it as pathetic when compared to western countries. 

In India, seven doctors take care of 10,000 patients, while in Europe and USA, the number of doctors are 32 and 25 (for 10,000 patients). The country has 8.40 lakh doctors, 398 medical colleges and 150 dental colleges in total.

If the country has to reach global standards, there should be minimum 25 doctors for 10,000 patients and the country needs not less than 25 lakh doctors. It could be achieved, if the number of medical colleges are increased to 1,000 and dental colleges to 500.

Delink pharma

On pharmaceutical production in the world, the minister said, “India is ranked third, after USA in the top and China in second position. A proposal has been submitted to the government to delink medical equipment and pharmaceutical from the ministry of chemicals and fertiliser.”