A major discrepancy has allegedly emerged between the number of doctors in Delhi reported to Parliament and the records maintained by the Delhi Medical Council (DMC), raising concerns over the reliability of India’s healthcare data.

According to a written reply submitted to the Lok Sabha by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) in August 2024, Delhi had 31,479 registered allopathic doctors. However, an RTI reply from the DMC in August 2025 reportedly shows the numbers were significantly higher, with 57,749 in 2014 and 72,636 by 2020.

“This is not just a clerical slip; such a wide gap raises questions about accountability and transparency in health data,” said Dr Arun Kumar, National General Secretary of the United Doctors Front, who highlighted the discrepancy in his analysis.

The gap of over 40,000 doctors could have implications for healthcare planning, including calculations of doctor-patient ratios and allocation of resources. Dr Kumar noted that “such a wide discrepancy is not just alarming — it is legally indefensible.”

The MoHFW has not publicly commented on the mismatch so far. It remains unclear whether the error was due to oversight or a failure to cross-check with the DMC before submitting the Parliamentary reply.

Parliamentary procedure considers the submission of incorrect or misleading information a serious issue, adds UDF.

“A gap of over 40,000 doctors is not an error to be overlooked. It is a potential breach of Parliamentary privilege, a violation of constitutional responsibility, and an attack on the integrity of data that drives healthcare policy in India,” added Dr Arun Kumar in a statement.