The Union Cabinet today gave its nod to set up additional 75 Government Medical Colleges across the country by the year 2021-22. The decision was taken in the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs meeting that was presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
#Cabinet approves 75 new Medical Colleges, to be established by 2021-22
Move to add 15,700 MBBS seats in the country pic.twitter.com/zFTSWLF2Cs
— Sitanshu Kar (@DG_PIB) August 28, 2019
These colleges will be established with existing district/referral hospitals under Phase-III of the ongoing Centrally Sponsored scheme.
The new medical colleges would be set up in under-served areas which have no medical college at present, and which have at least 200 bedded District Hospital. Preference will be given to Aspirational Districts and District Hospital having 300 beds.
Alongside the schemes that were approved in a bid to expand the accessibility of healthcare infrastructure and human resources, the Cabinet also approved an amount of Rs. 24,375 crore during the 15th Finance Commission period through the year 2021-22.
“The establishment of new Medical Colleges attached with existing District/Referral Hospitals, would lead to an increase in the availability of qualified health professionals, improve tertiary care in Government sector, utilize existing infrastructure of districts hospitals and promote affordable medical education in the country,” read the official government statement.
The government aims to set up the new medical colleges in under-served areas that have no medical college. The plan is to build at least 200 bedded District Hospital in such locations. The government will give preference to Aspirational Districts and District Hospital having 300 beds.
The government has its focus hinged on creating health care infrastructure and had earlier approved to set up 58 new Medical Colleges attached to existing district/referral hospitals under Phase-I and 24 under Phase-II. With the 75 proposes hospitals, the total 157 new hospitals will add at least 15,700 seats for medical students in the country.
Out of this, 39 medical colleges under Phase-I, have already started functioning, while the remaining 19 would be made functional by 2020-21. Under Phase-II, 18 new medical colleges have been approved.
