New Delhi: The Government of India has given its nod to as many as 157 new medical colleges in India since 2014 and has invested a total of ₹17,691.08 crore on these projects.
On completion of the projects, nearly 16000 undergraduate medical seats would be added. Of these, 6500 seats have already been created with the functioning of 64 new Medical Colleges, according to a PIB release.
Under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS), the central government has also provided about ₹2,451.1 crore for the upgradation of existing state government or central government medical colleges to increase MBBS seats in the country.
The central government has relentlessly pursued the aim of cultivating more human resources through Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) that seek to address not only the issues of equity in medical education and but also a geographic disparity in the availability of medical care.
This is implemented by the following avenues:
- Establishment of new Medical Colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals
- Upgradation of existing State Government/Central Government medical colleges to increase MBBS seats in the country and
- Strengthening and upgradation of State Government Medical colleges for starting new PG disciplines and increasing PG seats.
- Brief of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme: Establishment of new Medical Colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals
Under the Scheme, medical colleges are established in districts which do not have either a government or private medical college. Preference is given to underserved/backward/Aspirational Districts.
Under three phases of the scheme, 157 new medical colleges have been approved, out of which 63 medical colleges are already functional. Of the 157 new colleges that are being established under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme, 39 are being set up in Aspirational Districts.
As per the scheme guidelines, the state governments are the implementing agency and the planning, execution and commissioning of the projects are to be done by the state government.
The achievements under the 3 phases:
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