Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by PM Narendra Modi has given its approval for 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 schemes approved on August 28, 2019, 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 Government sector, utilise 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 bed District Hospital. Preference will be given to Aspirational Districts and District Hospital having 300 beds. The scheme on establishment of new medical colleges (58+24+75) would lead to addition of at least 15,700 MBBS seats in the country, according to a PIB release.
Continuing the focus on creation of healthcare infrastructure, the Government had earlier approved establishment of 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.