539 medical colleges in India with 80,312 MBBS seats: Minister Apprises Parliament

New Delhi: At present, there are 539 medical colleges in the country with an intake capacity of 80,312 MBBS seats annually. Information to this effect was recently given the Minister of State for Health to the Lok Sabha while responding to a question raised by MP GS Basavaraj, on how government plans to increase MBBS seats from 1,00,000 to meet the shortage of medical practitioers

"During the last six years, the intake capacity has been increased by 29185 MBBS seats. The Government is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme to established new medical colleges attached with District/Referral hospitals in underserved areas of the country," the Minister stated, responding to the question about the steps initiated by the Government towards enhancing seat in medical colleges.

The minister also informed that Of the 157 medical colleges to be established in different phases, 42 have already become functional. The remaining 115 medical colleges are likely to become functional by 2022-23.

The Ministry is also implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme to increase 10000 MBBS seats in the existing Government medical colleges, informed the minister. The Ministry has also undertaken regulatory reforms in the field of medical education to increase the supply of medical professionals.

In an earlier session, MOS health had informed that the Central Government has given its approval for the establishment of 26 new medical colleges attached to existing district or referral hospitals

To meet the shortfall of human resource in health, the government is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for “establishment of new medical colleges by upgrading district/referral hospitals” preferably in underserved districts of the country with fund sharing between the Central Government and States in the ratio of 90:10 for NE/special category states and 75:25 for other states

The Phase-III of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for establishment of medical colleges had been approved by the Cabinet on 28.8.2019 to establish 75 more new medical colleges by 2022-23. The State/UT Governments have been requested to send their proposals under this Scheme along with the Detailed Project Report as per Scheme guidelines for consideration by the Ministry.

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