Increasing Doctors and Beds
A report by FICCI-EY titled 'Decoding India's Healthcare Landscape' highlights the need to significantly increase the number of qualified doctors and hospital beds in India to achieve the country's healthcare vision for 2047. This vision aims to bring India's healthcare infrastructure closer to the average of developed countries.
The report acknowledges the progress made in increasing the number of medical colleges and MBBS seats, leading to a substantial rise in registered allopathic doctors from 6,60,801 in 2005 to 13,08,009 in 2022. However, it emphasizes the need to further increase the number of qualified doctors to more than 50 lakh.
Similarly, the bed capacity in government hospitals has grown from 4.7 lakh beds in 2005 to 8.5 lakh beds in 2021. The report recommends adding 30 lakh more hospital beds to meet the growing healthcare needs of the population.
The report also emphasizes the importance of achieving 100% health insurance coverage for the entire population and establishing a medical college in every district of India.
A Global Leader
The report also highlights the growth and potential of India's pharmaceutical industry. It projects the total market size of the industry to reach USD 130 billion by 2030. India currently ranks third globally in pharmaceutical production by volume, known for its generic medicines and low-cost vaccines. The country is a major supplier of essential vaccines, catering to a significant portion of global demand.
By addressing the need for more doctors, hospital beds, and universal health insurance coverage, India can work towards achieving its ambitious healthcare vision for 2047. Additionally, the continued growth of the pharmaceutical industry can further strengthen India's position as a global leader in healthcare.