Syllabus: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Background
- The Indian government frequently cites a WHO benchmark of 1 doctor per 1,000 population, but WHO has never issued such a norm.
- Parliamentary replies till 2010 stated no WHO standard, but from 2015 onwards the 1:1,000 ratio began appearing in official answers.
Government’s Use of the 1:1,000 Ratio
- The ratio was used to compare doctor availability in India.
- Calculations counted 80% of allopathic doctors as “available”, but 100% of AYUSH doctors were included, skewing ratios.
- AYUSH inclusion lowered the doctor-population ratio and improved overall figures.
WHO’s Clarification
- WHO confirmed it “does not prescribe health-worker population ratios” for countries.
- Ratios must be based on national health labour market needs.
- WHO uses broader SDG-linked composite benchmarks, not doctor-specific norms.
- Latest global threshold: 4.45 doctors, nurses, and midwives per 1,000 people.
Origins of the Misquoted Ratio
- No WHO document mentions the 1:1,000 norm.
- The earliest official Indian reference was Medical Council of India’s “Vision 2015” (2011), recommending 1:1,000 through expert consultation.
- The number was repeatedly cross-cited in academic papers and parliamentary replies.
Current Global Position
- India has 0.7 doctors per 1,000 people (Rank 118 of 181 countries).
- The composite figure is 3.06 per 1,000, below the 4.45 threshold (Rank 122).
- Experts highlight rural–urban imbalance, not total doctor shortage, as the real crisis.