Andalib Akhter / New Delhi
In a major step towards healthcare, the Union Cabinet today approved setting up of 75 new Medical Colleges across the by 2021-22.
The move will add 15,700 more MBBS seats in the country.
These medical colleges will be established in under-served areas having no such colleges with at least 200 bedded district hospitals.
Preference will be given to Aspirational districts and district hospitals having 300 beds.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar briefed the media about the Cabinet decision.
For the schemes to increase the availability of healthcare infrastructure and manpower, the Cabinet also sanctioned an expenditure of Rs. 24,375 crore during the 15lh Finance Commission period 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) would 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.
Earlier Government has announced as a part of ‘AyushmanBharat’ two path-breaking initiatives that address health holistically, impacting primary, secondary and tertiary care system as well as prevention and health promotion.