The Parliament was informed that between 2014 and the present, the number of medical colleges in the country has increased by 82%, from 387 to 704, and the number of MBBS seats has also increased by 110%, from 51,348 to 107,948.
The number of post-graduate (PG) medical seats in the country have also increased, according to Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, from 31,185 in 2014 to 67,802 as of the present, witnessing an increase of 117%.
Under a centrally supported scheme (CSS) for the establishment of new medical colleges attached to existing district/referral hospitals, 101 medical colleges have been approved in the last five years, according to Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, including one in Assam.
With a fund-sharing ratio of 60:40 for the other states and 90:10 for the northeastern and special category states, the Union Health Ministry administers the CSS with a preference for underserved areas and aspirational districts without public or private medical colleges.
The CSS for the establishment of new medical colleges by upgrading district/referral hospitals, under which 157 new medical colleges have been approved (in three phases), and 107 of those are already functional, is one of the measures and steps taken by the government to improve the medical standards in the nation, the Minister added.
To expand the number of MBBS (both UG and PG) seats, the CSS was implemented to strengthen and upgrade the existing state government- or centre-run medical colleges. Support has been given to add 4,677 MBBS seats in 77 colleges at a cost of US$ 682.4 million (Rs. 5,612.25 crore), 4,058 PG seats in 72 colleges at a cost of US$ 182.2 million (Rs. 1,498.43 crore), and 3,957 PG seats in 62 colleges at a cost of US$ 542.4 million (Rs. 4,461.44 crore) for the second phase.
The Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana’s (PMSSY) “upgradation of government medical colleges by the construction of super-speciality blocks” has cleared a total of 75 projects, 62 of which are now completed, Dr. Mansukh Mandviya said.
Furthermore, the National Medical Commission (NMC) Act, 2019 provides for a medical education system that improves access to quality and affordable medical education and ensures the availability of adequate and high-quality medical professionals in all parts of the country. The NMC has also taken several steps to improve the country’s quality and affordability of medical education.
