Will India’s 10,000 New Medical Seats Solve the Doctor Shortage Crisis?

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s Union Budget 2025 announces the addition of 10,000 new medical seats to help address India’s doctor shortage. With a plan to increase the number of medical seats by 75,000 over the next five years, the initiative aims to tackle growing healthcare demands. However, regional disparities in doctor distribution, infrastructure challenges, and the retention of medical professionals in rural areas remain key hurdles to achieving healthcare equity across India.