The Indian Medical Association national president Dr Dilip Bhanushali made significant revelations during his visit to Chandigarh on Saturday, challenging prevailing narratives about healthcare in India and highlighting critical issues affecting both medical professionals and public health.
The Doctor Shortage Myth and Employment Crisis
Dr Bhanushali categorically dismissed the widely held belief about India facing a shortage of doctors. "This is a myth we are facing a shortage of doctors," he stated emphatically during his address at a national conference. The IMA has formally communicated to the health ministry that no such dearth exists, with the association even offering to provide doctors for rural areas.
The reality, according to the IMA chief, presents a contrasting picture. Every year, over 1.1 lakh doctors graduate from medical colleges across the country. Despite this substantial annual output of medical professionals, a troubling number of young doctors face unemployment or underemployment, with many earning meager salaries as low as Rs 40,000.
Dr Bhanushali argued that the government should reconsider its current approach of opening "more medical colleges in every nook and corner" - a strategy that often compromises educational quality. Instead, he emphasized the need to focus on improving existing institutions and creating viable employment opportunities for the thousands of doctors already entering the workforce annually.
Firm Opposition to Mixopathy Practice
The IMA president strongly reiterated the association's opposition to the integration of alternative medicine systems with allopathy, a practice they term 'mixopathy'. Dr Bhanushali stressed that systems like Ayurveda should be maintained in their "original, pure form" without mixing with fundamentally different medical sciences.
"Mixing two fundamentally different sciences creates clinical risk, we have told this to government," he stated, highlighting the association's consistent position on this controversial matter.
The primary concern revolves around the unauthorized practice by non-allopathic practitioners, particularly BAMS graduates, who prescribe modern medicines like third-generation antibiotics and steroids or attempt surgical procedures without adequate training. "99% of Ayurveda people write modern medicines without knowing the indications and side effects," Dr Bhanushali revealed, noting that this often leads to difficult-to-treat complications when these patients eventually seek allopathic care.
Critical Assessment of Healthcare Policies
Dr Bhanushali offered a critical perspective on government healthcare initiatives, specifically addressing the Ayushman Bharat scheme and the country's overall health expenditure patterns. With national healthcare spending hovering around 1.5% of GDP, he suggested that funds would be better directed toward improving government infrastructure rather than relying heavily on insurance-based schemes.
He highlighted the significant role of the private sector in healthcare delivery, noting that "80% of healthcare is delivered by the private sector." Due to overcrowding in government hospitals, smaller nursing homes have become the only viable option for many patients seeking timely medical attention.
The IMA president also criticized the government for compelling doctors to participate in the Ayushman panel despite pending payments worth hundreds of crores for months. "Government is bent upon starting Ayushman in every hospital without proper allocation of funds," he commented, pointing to the practical challenges facing healthcare providers participating in the scheme.
Dr Bhanushali's comprehensive address in Chandigarh brought to light multiple structural issues in India's healthcare system, from medical education and employment to integration of medical systems and implementation of health schemes, providing a thorough professional assessment of the current state of Indian healthcare.
