New Delhi, Jan 2 : The US may allow in nearly 5,000 more Indian doctors for residency training every year, an American doctors' body said here Saturday.

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

"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," he added.

At least 30-35 percent of the additional doctors will be Indians, said Jayesh Shah, another AAPI member, adding : "You can expect approximately 5,000 more Indian doctors getting this benefit in the near future."

The doctors are allowed to practice in the US after residency training.

The US administration has put a cap of 18,000 on the number of doctors for residency training annually, of which 16,000 are local doctors. Out of the 2,000 doctors of foreign origin, Indian medicos have a share of 30 to 35 percent.

"Once the federal cap is removed, it will help many Indian doctors to specialize in new areas," Vinod K. Shah added. Currently, over 61,000 Indian-origin doctors are working in the US.

Indian-origin doctors from America, Britain, Canada and Australia are currently in New Delhi to deliberate on several healthcare issues and devise ways to work with Indian counterparts in bettering the healthcare delivery mechanism.(IANS)