The migration of Indian doctors to foreign countries has also been a growing concern. In 2021, OECD countries reported that nearly 19,000 Indian physicians were part of their workforce, with over 2,800 migrating in that year alone.Dr Rohan Krishnan, chief patron of the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), expressed strong reservations about the future of the profession in India. He warned young aspirants against pursuing MBBS, arguing that the current scenario was already grim and would likely deteriorate further. He pointed out that despite earning degrees, many doctors, particularly dentists, struggle to secure well-paying jobs, with some earning less than Rs 20,000 per month—an amount lower than what an autorickshaw driver earns.Dr Dhruv Chauhan, national council coordinator of the Indian Medical Association-Junior Doctors Network (IMA-JDN), said that India does not face a shortage of doctors but rather a failure in their distribution. He cited the lack of infrastructure in hospitals, including basic drugs and medical technology, as a major problem. Without addressing these fundamental issues, he argued, increasing medical seats would be of little benefit.Dr Meet Ghonia, national secretary of the Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA), also echoed similar concerns. He urged for an increase in government medical seats rather than private institutions, along with a corresponding rise in postgraduate and super-specialty seats. He also urged the government to create more job opportunities for doctors.
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