Medical education cost to double in India in next 10 years; this is what study reveals

NEW DELHI: Healthcare sector offers employment opportunities irrespective of the situation. Many students from Kerala go abroad for MBBS and nursing courses. In the period between 2008 and 2018, the average cost of producing a doctor or nurse was comparatively low across many parts of the world. The cost of medical education in China in 2008 was three times lower than other countries while in India it was two times lower. But during 2018, it has tripled. When the cost reduced in other countries, it went up by 167% in China. It was also doubled in India.

As per the figures in 2018, 110 billion dollars was invested globally by governments and students’ families for the education of doctors and nurses. Out of this, 60 billion dollars was invested in doctors and 48 billion dollars in nurses. Rs 6 lakh was the estimated medical expenditure per candidate in China in 2008. In India it was Rs 15 lakh. In 2018, it was increased to 41,000 dollars. The condition is similar in India, cost rose from 35,000 dollars to 70,000 dollars.

​​​​​According to new studies, the cost of medical education in India and China have been tripled in the past 10 years. The cost of a medical graduate in India is above Rs 58 lakh. But the scenario is quite the opposite in the countries in Europe, America and Africa. Compared to 2008, the medical education expense is lower in 2018. Although the cost has increased drastically in India and China, it is quite lower when compared to other countries. In North Africa, the cost of education per doctor went up by 47 per cent and for nurses by 25 per cent.

In the world, there are more healthcare workers in developed countries than in low-income countries. The reason is that developed countries provide them with higher salaries and facilities. Globally, the number of doctors has doubled in 10 years, and the number of nurses has tripled, which is much higher than the global population growth of just eight per cent. Nurses make up 59 per cent of health professionals.