Doctor-to-Patient Ratio in India: A State-wise Analysis

India’s healthcare system relies heavily on doctors to maintain the health of 1.4 billion individuals.

By 2025, the nation is projected to achieve a national doctor-to-patient ratio of 811 individuals for every doctor, indicating that each doctor will, on average, attend to 811 patients.

This surpasses the World Health Organization’s target of 1,000, attributed to the presence of 1,386,145 allopathic doctors and 565,000 AYUSH practitioners.

My table delineates this ratio across all 28 states and 8 union territories, revealing significant disparities.

Certain areas are well-served by doctors, while others experience shortages.

State-wise doctor to patient ratio in India

Rank	State/Union Territory	Doctor-to-Patient Ratio (People per Doctor)
1	Goa	353
2	Karnataka	457
3	Andhra Pradesh	488
4	Tamil Nadu	495
5	Kerala	509
6	Delhi	550*
7	Puducherry	600*
8	Chandigarh	650*
9	Punjab	750*
10	Haryana	800*
11	India (National Average)	811
12	Gujarat	850*
13	Maharashtra	850*
14	West Bengal	850*
15	Himachal Pradesh	900*
16	Jammu and Kashmir	900*
17	Uttarakhand	900*
18	Odisha	950*
19	Rajasthan	950*
20	Sikkim	950*
21	Andaman and Nicobar Islands	1000*
22	Tripura	1000*
23	Telangana	1452
24	Assam	1500*
25	Chhattisgarh	1500*
26	Jharkhand	1500*
27	Madhya Pradesh	1500*
28	Arunachal Pradesh	1600*
29	Manipur	1600*
30	Meghalaya	1600*
31	Nagaland	1600*
32	DNHDD (Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu)	1700*
33	Ladakh	1700*
34	Lakshadweep	1700*
35	Bihar	2000*
36	Uttar Pradesh	2363
37	Mizoram	2500*

The table organizes states and union territories according to their doctor-to-patient ratios, where lower figures signify improved access to medical professionals.

Goa ranks first with a ratio of 353 individuals per doctor, followed by Karnataka (457), Andhra Pradesh (488), Tamil Nadu (495), and Kerala (509). Conversely, at the lower end, Mizoram (2500), Uttar Pradesh (2363), and Bihar (2000) grapple with elevated ratios.

The national average stands at 811, yet numerous states lag significantly behind.

Goa’s leading position is due to its modest population (1.5 million) and robust medical tourism, which draws doctors to private hospitals in Panaji.

Karnataka excels because Bangalore is home to numerous medical colleges, rapidly producing new doctors.

Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu benefit from governmental emphasis on healthcare, with the establishment of new medical schools in cities like Chennai and Vijayawada.

Kerala’s ratio of 509 reflects its longstanding tradition of training and retaining doctors within the state.

What accounts for the lag in certain states? Uttar Pradesh, with a population of 240 million, has a dispersed doctor workforce, despite the presence of many medical colleges.

Bihar’s ratio of 2000 indicates a shortage exacerbated by doctors relocating to urban areas or overseas.

Mizoram’s ratio of 2500 underscores its geographical remoteness, complicating efforts to retain medical professionals.

Why some states perform well while some lags?

Several elements influence the doctor-to-patient ratio throughout India:

Medical Education: States such as Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, which have 86 and 91 medical colleges respectively, produce thousands of doctors each year.

This results in lower ratios of 457 and 495. In contrast, Uttar Pradesh, with 88 colleges, struggles to meet the demands of its large population, resulting in a ratio of 2363.

Urban Attraction: Physicians tend to favor urban areas like Delhi (550) and Chandigarh (650), where hospitals provide superior salaries and facilities.

Consequently, rural regions like Bihar experience a loss of doctors to these urban centers, raising their ratio to 2000.

Economic Factors: Affluent states like Goa draw private practitioners with lucrative job offers, achieving a ratio of 353.

Conversely, poorer states such as Jharkhand (1500) find it challenging to provide competitive salaries, leading to a migration of doctors.

Geographical Challenges: Isolated regions like Mizoram (2500) and Ladakh (1700) encounter significant obstacles.

Difficult terrain and a scarcity of hospitals hinder the retention of doctors, who are more inclined to settle in urban states like Puducherry (600).

Government Initiatives: The doctor-to-patient ratio in Andhra Pradesh stands at 488, benefiting from state initiatives that establish rural clinics.

In contrast, northeastern states like Nagaland (1600) receive less central funding, which restricts their ability to recruit doctors.

Progress and Obstacles

India’s national ratio of 811 signifies substantial advancement compared to a decade ago, when it was approximately 1,700.

The nation currently trains 1,18,137 MBBS students annually, contributing around 50,000 new doctors.

Initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat promote the retention of doctors in public hospitals, enhancing the situation in states like Kerala. However, challenges persist.

According to The Hindu (2024), 74% of doctors are employed in urban settings, leaving rural areas like Chhattisgarh (1500) underserved.

In Mizoram, the limited number of medical colleges (1) and poor retention rates contribute to the most unfavorable ratio of 2500.

Leading states like Goa and Karnataka exemplify the potential outcomes of investment and urban attractiveness.

In contrast, struggling states like Uttar Pradesh are confronted with population pressures and require additional colleges and incentives to retain local doctors.

Source

• Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. (2021). National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) 2019-21: India report. International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS).