Improved doctor-patient ratio in Assam is still below national average

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Though the doctor-patient ratio in Assam has slightly improved yet the current ratio is worse than the national average.

As per the latest information available with the Centre, there is only one doctor against 1,453 patients in Assam which is far lesser than the WHO (World Health Organization) recommendation of one doctor per 1,000 people.

"Till last year (2019), Assam had one doctor against 1,800 patients. As on date, the State has one doctor against 1,453 patients. The slight improvement in the ratio can be attributed to the setting up more medical colleges in the State. Now, Assam has six medical colleges. Construction of four other medical colleges is underway. Plans are on the pipeline to set up more medical colleges including one in Guwahati," an official in Health department said.

Assam's situation is worse than even the national ratio as India has one doctor for every 1,343 people. The number of doctors (in Assam) registered with Medical Council of India till June 30, 2020 is 24,083.

Meanwhile, this situation in the other north-eastern States is worse than that in Assam. Nagaland has one doctor against 15,602 patients followed by 1:10,169 in Mizoram and 1:2,107 in Tripura.

"The shortage of doctors has stemmed from the fact that there had been no setting up of any medical colleges in the State for 40 long years after the setting up of the AMC (Assam Medical College) in 1947, the GMC (Gauhati Medical College) in 1960 and the SMC (Silchar Medical College) in 1968.

It was only since 2005-2006 that three other medical colleges were set up — one each at Jorhat, Tezpur and Barpeta," a former Principal of GMCH said, adding, "Going by the population boom, the State requires more than 1,000 doctors every year.

"In an ideal situation, the State needs to set up one medical college every 10 years to meet the shortage of doctors, he pointed out.

Also Watch: Smuggled Timber seized in West Karbi Anglong