Posted By :  

Over the past decade, medical colleges in Rajasthan—both government and private—have produced around 15,000 doctors, with 5,668 MBBS seats spread across 42 institutions. Despite this output, a recent report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) highlights a significant problem: the state managed to recruit only about 10,000 doctors during the eight years from 2016-17 to 2024-25, while more than 15,000 MBBS graduates passed out between 2022 and 2025. In simple terms, fresh-trained doctors are entering the workforce, but there are not enough positions available in hospitals to employ them.

The shortage becomes more serious in specialized medical fields. Although postgraduate (PG) training seats have increased, the majority of specialist posts remain confined to medical colleges. Rural and tribal hospitals, which often need specialist doctors the most, continue to face a lack of qualified professionals. Experts recommend that officials conduct a “cadre review”—meaning they should reassess how many sanctioned posts are needed and create new positions that match the real needs of these hospitals.

Looking ahead, the state is expected to produce 56,668 new doctors over the next ten years. Yet, unless the pace of hiring improves, many of these doctors may remain unemployed or underemployed. The gap between increasing graduation rates and slow recruitment into the public health system remains a serious challenge for ensuring accessible healthcare across Rajasthan.