Cabinet approves 75 new medical colleges, to add 15,700 MBBS seats

New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi has given its approval for the establishment of 75 additional Government Medical Colleges by 2021-22 attached with existing district/referral hospitals under phase-III of the ongoing centrally sponsored scheme.

For the execution of approved schemes and therefore to increase the availability of healthcare infrastructure and manpower, the Cabinet also sanctioned an expenditure of Rs 24,375 crore during the 15th Finance Commission period i.e. up to 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 the Government sector, utilize the existing infrastructure of districts hospitals and promote affordable medical education in the country.

New medical colleges would be set up in under-served areas having no medical college; with at least 200 bedded district hospital. Preference will be given to aspirational districts and district hospital having 300 beds.

The scheme on the establishment of new medical colleges (58+24+75) is expected to lead to the addition of at least 15,700 MBBS seats in the country.

Continuing the focus on the creation of health care infrastructure, the Government  earlier approved to establish 58 new Medical Colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals under Phase-I and 24 under Phase-II. 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.