Gujarat is adding more than 7,000 new doctors every year . This shows that the state's medical education system is growing strongly. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announced this update recently. He highlighted that this growth is helping to make healthcare better across Gujarat.
The Chief Minister shared this information at a national medical conference held in Ahmedabad. He explained that setting up new medical colleges and increasing the number of seats for students has been key. Gujarat once had only 1,175 medical seats for students. Since then, the state has worked hard to open medical colleges in many districts. This has greatly increased the number of doctors graduating each year, both at the undergraduate (MBBS) and postgraduate (PG) levels.
Medical Education Sees Big Growth Across India
India's medical education system has also grown a lot in the last ten years. More medical colleges have opened across the country. The number of colleges has nearly doubled, going from 387 to 731 . This expansion means more opportunities for students to study medicine.
The number of seats available for medical students has also gone up sharply. Here is how the seats have increased:
| Type of Seat | Seats 10 Years Ago | Current Seats |
| MBBS (Undergraduate) | About 51,000 | Over 1,12,000 |
| PG (Postgraduate) | About 31,000 | About 72,000 |
This big increase in medical seats is important for the country. It helps to solve the problem of not having enough doctors. It also improves access to healthcare services for everyone, especially in smaller towns and villages. With more doctors, people can get medical help closer to home.
Challenges and Future Plans for Medical Education
While the number of seats is growing, there are still some challenges. Medical schools need enough good teachers. Students also need enough chances for practical training in hospitals. The buildings and equipment (infrastructure) must also be ready for more students. These are important points that medical authorities and colleges need to focus on.
Gujarat's government has made healthcare and medical education top priorities. This matches India's national goal of making public health systems stronger. The state wants to ensure that all its citizens have good medical care.
The rise in the number of medical graduates will also affect students planning to join medical courses. There might be more competition for exams like NEET UG (for undergraduate courses) and NEET PG (for postgraduate courses). Also, there will be more demand for internship spots and postgraduate seats in the coming years. This means that medical education bodies must plan carefully for the future to support all these new doctors.
