On Wednesday, August 28, 2019, the Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs (CCEA) gave a clear nod on establishing a total of 75 government medical colleges. These 75 government medical colleges will be attached to the existing district or referral hospitals by the year 2021-2022.
A total number of 58 medical colleges were approved in the first phase of the scheme, out of which 39 colleges have already started functioning and the remaining will start functioning by the year 2020-2021.
With the setting up of these medical colleges, a total of 15,700 MBBS seats will be added in the country.
As informed by a government official, these medical colleges will be set up in under-served areas having no such institutes. These medical colleges will be associated with the district hospitals having a minimum of 200 beds.
The establishment of these new medical colleges will lead to the increase of qualified health professionals, will be responsible for improving the tertiary care in the government sector, and will also be responsible for promoting affordable medical education in the country by utilizing the existing infrastructure of district hospitals.
With the main focus on the creation of healthcare infrastructure, the government has already approved the establishment of 58 medical colleges which will be attached with the existing district and referral hospitals under Phase I of the scheme and 24 institutes under Phase II.
