Guj to achieve one-doctor-per-thousand-people ratio soon: CM

Ahmedabad, Sep 4: Gujarat government is planning to put in place modern medical infrastructure in the state and also achieve one-doctor-per-thousand-people ratio in the near future, Chief Minister Anandiben Patel said here today.

"There is only one doctor available per 2,092 citizens in the state, a ratio which the government wants to raise to one doctor per 1,000 people in the near future by setting up new medical infrastructure in the state," Patel said.

The Chief Minister was speaking at the inauguration of Gujarat Medical Education and Research Society's (GMERS) new medical college in Junagadh town of Saurashtra region.

"Due to the lack of sufficient number of medical seats available in Gujarat in the past, bright students were forced to take admission in other states after paying hefty donations," she said.

Patel also said that the BJP-led government in Gujarat took a several steps in the last 15 years to increase the number of medical seats to enable students pursue their medical studies in Gujarat.

The number of medical colleges in the state has gone up to 21 from nine during this period. As a result, 3,230 seats of MBBS, 1,240 seats of dental and 2,475 seats in physiotherapy are now available in the state today, Patel was quoted as saying in the release.

The Junagadh Medical College complex, which is spread across 37 acres on the outskirts of Junagadh, has come up with a total investment of Rs 624 crore, an official press release said.

It is the sixth medical college that has come up under the aegis of Gujarat Medical and Education Research Society (GMERS), a state-run body. The college is allotted 150 seats of MBBS course.

PTI