New Delhi: A major discrepancy has emerged between the Delhi Medical Council (DMC) and the Union Health Ministry over the number of registered doctors in the national capital. While the DMC reported over 72,000 registered practitioners in 2020, data presented in the Lok Sabha in August 2024 listed only 31,479 doctors, showing a gap of more than 40,000.
RTI Application Uncovers Contradiction
The inconsistency came to light following a Right to Information (RTI) query filed by Dr Arun Kumar, National General Secretary of the United Doctors Front (UDF). In its reply, the DMC stated that it had 72,636 registered doctors as of 2020, confirming that Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) had been used for its elections since 2009.
Health Ministry’s Lower Figures Raise Questions
In contrast, the Union Health Ministry, in a written reply to the Lok Sabha on August 2, 2024, claimed that only 31,479 doctors were registered with the DMC. The figure, presented as part of a nationwide count of allopathic doctors, stands in sharp contradiction to the council’s records.
40,000 Doctors ‘Missing’ from Records
When compared, the two datasets suggest that between 2020 and 2024, Delhi appears to have lost over 40,000 registered doctors on paper. The discrepancy has triggered concerns about the accuracy and credibility of India’s medical workforce data.
Activist Doctor Flags Data Gap
Calling it a “stunning revelation,” Dr Kumar said the figures placed before Parliament by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) directly contradicted the official DMC records. “The discrepancy is not small — it is a staggering 40,000 doctors,” he stated in a press release.
‘Systemic Collapse of Accountability’
Explaining the mismatch, Dr Kumar told Medical Dialogues that the issue stemmed from bureaucratic negligence and lack of coordination. “This isn’t a data mismatch; it’s a systemic collapse of accountability. The numbers shared in Parliament were not cross-verified with the DMC — the primary statutory authority,” he said.
Outdated and Unverified Data Practices
Dr Kumar added that India currently lacks a real-time, unified doctor registry, and each state medical council maintains its records independently. “The NMC doesn’t maintain a live-linked database. When Parliament asks, officials simply copy and paste from old files without verification,” he alleged.
Call for Transparency and Reform
Terming the situation a “national warning,” Dr Kumar said the 40,000 missing doctors represent more than a statistical error. “Our data systems are sick, and only truth and accountability can heal them,” he warned, urging the government to create a centralised, transparent doctor registry to prevent future discrepancies.
