Centre approves 157 medical colleges; 108 become functional

Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS), 157 Government medical colleges have been approved in three phases. Out of these, 108 medical colleges have become functional. The phase wise details of medical colleges approved in the country are at Annexure-I.

The Government has increased number of medical colleges and subsequently increased MBBS seats. There is an increase of 82% in medical colleges from 387 before 2014 to 706 as of now. Further, there is an increase of 112% in MBBS seats from 51,348 before 2014 to 1,08,848 as of now.

Some of the measures/steps taken by the Government to augment the medical education facilities and to improve the medical standards in the country include: –

1. CSS for establishment of new medical colleges by upgrading district/ referral hospital under which 157 new medical colleges have been approved, out of which 108 are already functional.
2. CSS for strengthening/ upgradation of existing State Government/ Central Government medical colleges to increase the number of MBBS (UG) and PG seats.
3. Under “Upgradation of Government medical colleges by construction of Super Specialty Blocks” of PMSSY scheme, a total of 75 projects have been approved, of which 64 projects are complete.
4. Under the Central Sector Scheme for setting up of new AIIMS, 22 AIIMS have been approved. Undergraduate courses have started in 19 of these.
5. Relaxation in the norms for setting up of medical college in terms of requirement for faculty, staff, bed strength and other infrastructure.
6. DNB qualification has been recognized for appointment as teaching faculty to take care of shortage of faculty.
7. Enhancement of age limit for appointment/ extension/ re-employment against posts of teachers/dean/principal/ director in medical colleges upto 70 years.

The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare administers a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for ‘Establishment of new medical colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals’ with preference to underserved areas and aspirational districts, where there is no existing Government or private medical college with fund sharing between the Centre and State Governments in the ratio of 90:10 for North Eastern and Special Category States and 60:40 for others.

The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

State-wise details of 157 Medical Colleges approved under the Centrally Sponsored scheme for ‘Establishment of new medical colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals’

MB Bureau