Medical education in India

Abstract

Medical schools in India produce the largest number of doctors than anywhere else in the world (30,408 from 271 medical schools), corresponding to the rapid proliferation of medical colleges in the last two decades, especially within the private sector. The Medical Council of India (MCI), the regulatory body, is required to approve any significant reforms in medical curricula. The accreditation process for medical schools focuses largely on the infrastructure and human resources required and little on the process and quality of education or outcomes. The implementation of the recommendations of MCI regarding recognition or de-recognition of a medical college is governed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, whilst individual universities also have variable sets of regulations for their affiliated medical schools. As a result, there is no uniformity in the standard of medical education across the country.