My friend Kalpana Desai asked :
“The proportion of doctor to population is very low...specially in rural India....can u share your views regarding this and a viable solution so all may benefit and make the world a better place for all. “
Before suggesting a solution , let us study following data :
( A ) Number of Medical Colleges in India
Ø Total No ……… 706 ……… having…… 108,940 seats
Ø Private ………… 365 ……. having …… 52,193 seats …. ( Fee > Rs 10-25 lakh / year )
Ø Govt …………… 350 ….. having….. 56,748 seats …. ( Fee > Rs 1 – 3 lakh / year )
------------------------------
( B ) Number of Hospitals
Ø Government …………….. 25,778
Ø Private ……………………….43,486 ( only Allopathic )
------------------------------
( C ) Number of Doctors
Country Name | Doctors per 1,000 Population |
Austria | 5.2 |
Norway | 5.1 |
Switzerland | 4.9 |
Germany | 4.8 |
Spain | 4.6 |
Italy | 4.3 |
Australia | 4.0 |
United Kingdom | 3.7 |
United States | 3.5 |
Japan | 3.4 |
India | ~1.0** |
( D ) Number of Students appearing in NEET exam :
· Year | · No. of Candidates Appeared | · Percentile Requirement | · Candidates Met Requirement | · Candidates Failed Requirement |
· 2021 | · 16,14,777 | · 50th (General) / 40th (Others) | · ~8,70,074 | · ~7,44,703 |
· 2022 | · 18,72,343 | · 50th (General) / 40th (Others) | · ~9,93,069 | · ~8,79,274 |
· 2023 | · 20,38,596 | · 50th (General) / 40th (Others) | · ~11,45,976 | · ~8,92,620 |
· 2024* | · 24,00,000 | · 50th (General) / 40th (Others) | · ~13,20,000 | · ~10,80,000 |
Despite domestic push in Budget 2025, medical students likely to stick to studying abroad
( Eco Times / 6 Feb 2025 )
Dear Shri J P Naddaji
( Health Minister / jpnadda@gmail.com / min-hfm@gov.in / jp.nadda@sansad.nic.in )
In her budget speech last week, Smt Sitharamanji announced that the Govt will add 10,000 additional seats ( presumably in Govt Medical colleges where annual tuition fees are Rs 10,000 / - as against Rs 1 CRORE , for 4 year MBBS degree course , in Private colleges ) . Over the next 5 years , Govt plans to add 75,000 new seats
Even if this bold plan were to materialize , it comes no-where near the demand for seats considering that in NEET-UG 2025 exam , some 25 lakh students are expected to appear
Among many things that could be – and should be – tried , one is :
Creation of a VIRTUAL MEDICAL UNIVERSITY , where aspiring students can attend lectures from their homes
This could have many formats such as :
Ø A dedicated TV Channel ( or several TV Channels , for each stream of specialization, Eg : Dentistry – Ophthalmology – Pathology – Nursing etc )
Ø Several YouTube Video Channels ( different as above )
Ø Several Web Portals – each dedicated to a given specialization
Ø Many Mobile Apps
Ø “ AR – VR – AI “ Eye Glasses-based learning of PRACTICALS ( including Surgical Procedures , LIVE STREAMED from each and every OPERATION THEATRE from each and every HOSPITAL ). By appropriate Govt-level tie-ups , such LIVE STREAMING ( accompanied by an highly experienced Medical Doctor – Professional explaining each step of the procedure ) , would substitute the shortage of Medical Hospitals / Colleges. Registered examinees / students will login with Password and Facial Recognition . Initially , students will learn to perform simple “ Surgical Procedures “ using their AR-VR-AI enabled Eye-glasses. Using same devices, they will give exams. Gradually – and under supervision of Expert Surgeons, they will be allowed to perform “ Remote Surgeries “ ( gradually from simple to complex ), using ROBOTS
Ø Exams of students will also be conducted in HYBRID METHOD for NEET as recommended by Radhakrishnan Committee and already implemented at > https://www.my-teacher.in/
Ø In all of the above-mentioned ALTERNATIVES , Artificial Intelligence will be playing a CENTRAL ROLE in terms of :
Ø
# Syllabus / Curriculum development
# Pedagogy
# Exam Generation and Testing / Candidate Assessment
# Certification / Registration
Ø “ Virtual Medical University “ eco-system will have dynamic access to the Medical History database of all the persons registered under Ayushman Bharat Scheme ( currently approx.. 40 crore persons ). This “ database “ will be used for “ training “ of MEDICAL AI AGENT
Ø
Ø In addition to this, over a period of next 5 years, MEDICAL AI AGENT will train itself by being “ internet connected “ with all the Health Monitoring Devices , as envisaged in my following blog / email :
# https://myblogepage.blogspot.
Extract :
There are 7,000 million people on the earth
It is possible that , at any given time , some 7 million of these are lying in ICU , connected with :
* Electroencephalogram ( Brain Monitor )
* Electrocardiogram ( Heart Monitor )
* Pulse Rate Meter
* Oxygen Level Meter
* Glucose Level Meter........etc
As soon as these instruments get embedded with Internet of Things ( IoT ), a central server could collect all of these " measurements / readings " on 24*7 basis , for all 7 million persons
Then it will combine these readings with following data about each of those 7 million persons :
* Country / Region / City / Language
* Race / Religion / Gender / Age
* Height / Weight / Colour / Biometrics
* Blood Group / DNA / Past Medical History.....etc
It will also record , who died / when !
Using such massive data base, can BIG DATA / Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning , figure out what " Customized healthcare / Medical treatment / Supplementary diet " should be " prescribed " for each human on this earth ?
Shall we support such " Invasion of Individual Privacy " , in the larger interest / benefit of entire mankind ?
I think , we should
With regards,
Hemen Parekh
www.My-Teacher.in / 06 Feb 2025
Here is what different AI PLATFORMS viewed my suggestion of Virtual Medical University, to address the problem of shortage of doctors , not only in India but everywhere else :
ChatGPT :
Here's a tabulated assessment of the feasibility and desirability of various features of your proposed Virtual Medical University (VMU):
Feature | Feasibility | Desirability | Challenges & Considerations |
Dedicated TV Channels for Medical Education | High | High | Requires govt/private funding, quality control, and content curation. |
YouTube Video Channels for Specializations | High | High | Effective for theory, but lacks practical hands-on training. |
Web Portals for Specialized Learning | High | High | Needs interactive tools, assessments, and engagement mechanisms. |
Mobile Apps for Medical Education | High | High | Useful for continuous learning, but requires regular content updates. |
AR-VR-AI Eye Glasses for Practical Learning & Surgeries | Medium | Very High | Expensive to implement, needs high-speed connectivity and expert trainers. |
Live Streaming from Hospital Operation Theaters | Medium | High | Requires hospital partnerships, legal clearance, patient privacy concerns. |
AI-Powered Exam Generation & Online Testing | High | High | Already being implemented in tech exams (MCSE, etc.), but validity for medical licensing must be ensured. |
Hybrid NEET-style Exams for Medical Certification | High | High | Needs regulatory approval, but feasible with AI-based monitoring. |
Medical AI Agent for Diagnosis & Learning | Medium | High | Requires large-scale data collection, ethical concerns around patient privacy. |
Integration with Ayushman Bharat Patient Database | Low | Very High | Faces privacy, security, and regulatory challenges. |
AI Training via IoT Health Monitoring Devices | Medium | High | Needs global cooperation, data privacy concerns, and high-tech infrastructure. |
Remote AI-Assisted Surgeries via Robotics | Medium | Very High | Feasible in the long run, but needs massive investment in robotics and connectivity. |
Final Thoughts:
1.High Feasibility, Immediate Implementation Possible – Features like TV channels, YouTube, web portals, mobile apps, and AI-powered exams can be implemented quickly.
2.Medium-Term Goals – Live streaming surgeries, AR-VR training, and AI-assisted remote surgeries require phased implementation.
3.Long-Term Challenges – Privacy concerns, hospital partnerships, government regulations, and AI-driven patient diagnosis need careful planning.
Your Virtual Medical University is a bold and innovative solution to India's doctor shortage. The key challenge is government and institutional support for regulatory approvals and technological investments.
DeepSeek :
The proposal to establish a Virtual Medical University (VMU) to address the acute shortage of doctors in India is innovative and forward-thinking.
Below is a feasibility-desirability analysis of the various features of the VMU, presented in a tabulated format:
Feature | Feasibility | Desirability |
Dedicated TV Channels / YouTube Channels | High Feasibility: Existing infrastructure (TV, internet, and YouTube) can be leveraged. Content creation and distribution are scalable. | High Desirability: Accessible to a large population, including rural areas. Cost-effective for students. Can democratize medical education. |
Web Portals and Mobile Apps | High Feasibility: Web and mobile app development is well-established. Can be integrated with existing e-learning platforms. | High Desirability: Convenient for students to access lectures, study materials, and tests. Can be personalized for different specializations. |
AR-VR-AI Glasses for Practical Training | Moderate Feasibility: AR-VR-AI technology is advancing but is still expensive. Requires significant investment in hardware and software. | High Desirability: Immersive learning experience. Can simulate real-world surgical procedures. Reduces dependency on physical infrastructure. |
Live Streaming of Surgical Procedures | Moderate Feasibility: Requires collaboration with hospitals and high-speed internet infrastructure. Privacy and ethical concerns need to be addressed. | High Desirability: Provides real-time learning opportunities. Bridges the gap between theory and practice. |
Hybrid Exams (Online + Offline) | High Feasibility: Online exam systems are already in use (e.g., NEET). AI can automate question generation and evaluation. | High Desirability: Flexible and scalable. Reduces logistical challenges of conducting physical exams. |
AI-Driven Curriculum Development and Pedagogy | High Feasibility: AI can analyze data to optimize curriculum and teaching methods. Requires collaboration with educators and technologists. | High Desirability: Personalized learning paths for students. Ensures up-to-date and relevant content. |
Integration with Ayushman Bharat Database | Moderate Feasibility: Requires robust data privacy laws and secure infrastructure. Ethical concerns about data usage need to be addressed. | High Desirability: Provides a vast dataset for training AI and students. Can improve diagnostic and treatment accuracy. |
IoT-Enabled Health Monitoring for AI Training | Moderate Feasibility: IoT infrastructure is growing but requires standardization and integration with healthcare systems. Privacy and security are major concerns. | High Desirability: Enables predictive and preventive healthcare. Can revolutionize medical training and practice. |
Remote Surgeries Using Robots | Low Feasibility: Technologically complex and expensive. Requires regulatory approvals and extensive training for students. | Moderate Desirability: Can address the shortage of surgeons in remote areas. However, ethical and safety concerns need to be addressed. |
Certification and Registration | High Feasibility: Can be implemented using blockchain or centralized systems. Requires collaboration with regulatory bodies like the Medical Council of India (MCI). | High Desirability: Ensures credibility and recognition of VMU degrees. Can integrate with global medical education standards. |
Key Challenges and Recommendations:
1.Infrastructure and Funding:
o Establishing a VMU requires significant investment in technology, content creation, and infrastructure. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) can help bridge the funding gap.
2.Regulatory Approvals:
o The VMU must comply with the Medical Council of India (MCI) and other regulatory bodies. Collaboration with the government is essential for recognition of degrees.
3.Digital Divide:
o Rural areas may lack access to high-speed internet and devices. Initiatives like BharatNet and affordable devices can help bridge this gap.
4.Data Privacy and Ethics:
o The use of patient data for training AI raises privacy concerns. Robust data protection laws and ethical guidelines are necessary.
5.Quality Assurance:
o Ensuring the quality of education and practical training is critical. Regular audits and feedback mechanisms can help maintain standards.
6.Cultural Acceptance:
o Traditional medical education stakeholders (e.g., colleges, hospitals) may resist the VMU model. Awareness campaigns and pilot projects can demonstrate its effectiveness.
Conclusion:
The Virtual Medical University is a highly desirable solution to address the shortage of doctors in India.
While some features like AR-VR-AI glasses and remote surgeries face moderate to low feasibility due to technological and financial constraints, others like online lectures, hybrid exams, and AI-driven curriculum development are highly feasible and can be implemented in the short to medium term.
With proper planning, funding, and regulatory support, the VMU can revolutionize medical education in India and make it more accessible, affordable, and scalable.
ChatSUTRA (https://chat.two.ai/ ) :
Here’s an evaluation of the suggestion for a Virtual Medical University in addressing the shortage of doctors in India, presented in a tabulated format assessing the feasibility and desirability of its various features:
Feature | Description | Feasibility | Desirability |
Dedicated TV Channels | Broadcasting lectures for various medical specializations. | Moderate: Requires substantial infrastructure and content creation but can reach a wide audience. | High: Accessible to many, especially in remote areas. |
YouTube Video Channels | Educational content on medical topics. | High: Low cost and easy to set up, with existing platforms available. | High: Popular among younger audiences; promotes self-paced learning. |
Web Portals for Specializations | Dedicated online platforms for each specialization. | Moderate: Development and maintenance costs; needs high-quality content. |
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