October 26, 2025

Did you think the World Health Organization (WHO) told us there should be one doctor for every 1,000 people? Guess what, that’s a myth! WHO itself has cleared the air, saying it never made such a strict rule. Dr Giorgio Cometto, WHO's top health workforce expert, told TOI, "WHO does not have a blanket recommendation of 1 doctor/1,000 population. This is a factoid that is not backed up by any WHO document or reference, but unfortunately, it is quoted quite often." Why does this matter? Because many governments use this 1:1000 doctor-population ratio to say we have doctor shortages and then rush to open new medical colleges—even if some are not fully equipped or staffed well. Each country has its own unique health problems, population size, money available, and healthcare system. So, to meet big goals like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, every country must plan carefully. Dr Cometto stressed this, saying countries need to look at their own situation rather than blindly copying one number. Public health experts agree, pointing out that just adding more medical colleges won’t fix the huge gap between rural and urban doctor availability. Interestingly, WHO actually uses a different standard: it counts doctors, nurses, and midwives together, recommending at least 4.45 health workers per 1,000 people to reach good service coverage. But even this number isn’t a one-size-fits-all; countries have very different needs and starting points. Where did the 1 doctor per 1,000 people idea come from? Medical historian Dr Kiran Kumbhar traced it back to a 2011 report from India’s Medical Council, which said the target ratio "after detailed inputs from various working groups" should be 1:1000—but it did not say WHO set this rule. Later, a 14-member High Level Expert Group on Universal Health Coverage in India called this ratio a "WHO norm" in their 2011 report. They were actually citing a WHO report that referred to a 2004 study by global health experts. That study showed countries with fewer than 2.5 health workers per 1,000 people struggled to reach 80% coverage in important health services like childbirth care and measles vaccines. So next time you hear that 1:1000 doctor ratio is a must, remember it’s a myth turned factoid. Real health planning needs more than just numbers—it needs smart thinking!

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Tags: Who, Doctor ratio, Health workforce, India, Medical colleges, Sdg,