Indian doctors demand more specialisation seats and recognition for rural practice

Doctors and medical students in India have launched a nationwide campaign demanding that the number of postgraduate specialist training seats (or places) matches that of undergraduate seats at medical schools.

The “Save the Doctors” campaign was launched in Bangalore on 29 July by the Indian Medical Association, the largest association of doctors in India, and the Association of Healthcare Providers in India, which represents about 4000 hospitals in the country. It urges the government to equalise the number of medical undergraduate and postgraduate seats and to include rural posts as part of internship and postgraduate courses.1

India produces more than 46 000 medical graduates every year and 22 000 specialist doctors, although only 12 000 specialists qualify in a clinical discipline. Speaking in 2012, prime minister Manmohan …