This study is based on data collected in the 2001 Indian census, from which 593 district data files were specially extracted for us on health workers cross-classified by education level and medical qualification, in addition to demographic and geographical variables such as gender, urban–rural stratum (within each district), and so on. The value of using these census data is that for the first time information on the educational qualifications of practicing health professionals, including allopathic doctors, ayurvedic doctors, homeopathic doctors, nurses and pharmacists at the district level in India was analyzed.
At the national level, the density of all doctors (Allopathic, Ayurvedic, Homeopathic and Unani) was 79.7 doctors per lakh population, and of nurses and midwives 61.3 per lakh population. The comparable figures for China in 2005 were 130 for doctors, and 96 for nurses, per…
