An American doctors’ body said last week that about 5,000 more Indian doctors may be permitted for residency training by U. S. annually.

The President of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), Vinod K. Shah, told that he met US President Barack Obama and proposed to remove the present cap of 18,000 on residency training for US and foreign doctors.

He further added, “The case is now with a special committee and most likely to get a nod. The administration is planning to allow a total of 15,000 more doctors to do residency training in the US”.

Another AAPI member, Jayesh Shah, said that a minimum of 30-35 percent of the additional doctors will be Indians. He also said that an added 5,000 Indian doctors can be expected to be benefited in the near future.

After the completion of residency training the doctors are allowed to practice in the US. There is a cap of 18,000 on the number of doctors for residency training annually by the US administration.

Vinod K. Shah said that Indian doctors will be ableto specialize in new fields after the federal cap is removed.