Everyone seems to think that there is a shortage of doctors, but does any one realise that the Indian economy is not yet mature enough to take the financial burden? A typical outpatient procedure in the US costs a patient anywhere between USD 20-25,000. It costs about the same in Europe, only the costs are defrayed by taxpayer's money and not by the individual / insurance company concerned. Even though medical costs are abysmally low in India, I believe the figure of 1:1000 is unrealistic and unattainable at present. If engineers, accountants, scientists, designers, management personnel, all of whom are trained at a cost to the exchequer, are forever willing and ready to go abroad and are reaily allowed to do so, I fail to understand why doctors should be prevented from seeking a better life abroad as suggested by some readers below. In fact the average income of all other professionals is more than the average of all qualified MBBS doctors, in India. Why does not the government think of offering such pay and allowances to the doctors in the government sector, so that they are attracted to join government service rather than stay abroad or go into private practise? If the government is really interested in the health of the people, it should do that, rather than issue empty statements.
