The government has increased number of medical colleges and subsequently increased MBBS seats. There is an increase of 82% in medical colleges from 387 before 2014 to 704 as of now. Further, there is an increase of 110% in MBBS seats from 51,348 before 2014 to 1,07,948 as of now, there is also an increase of 117% in PG seats from 31,185 before 2014 to 67,802 as of now. The State/UT wise details of government and private medical colleges functioning in the country along with seats are at Annexure-I.

The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare administers a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for ‘Establishment of new medical colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals’ with preference to underserved areas and aspirational districts, where there is no existing government or private medical college with fund sharing between the centre and state governments in the ratio of 90:10 for north-eastern and special category states and 60:40 for others. Under this scheme, 157 medical colleges have been approved in three phases including 02 medical colleges in Maharashtra, 03 medical colleges in Himachal Pradesh & 27 medical colleges in Uttar Pradesh. As per the scheme guidelines, the planning, execution and commissioning of the projects is to be done by the state government. The details of medical colleges approved in the states of Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh & Uttar Pradesh are at Annexure-II.

Additionally, financial support has been provided to Himachal Pradesh for an increase of 120 MBBS seats in 6 medical colleges for Rs. 144 crore and 17 post-graduate seats in 1 medical college for Rs. 14.50 crore under CSS for upgradation of existing state government/ central government medical colleges for increasing MBBS under-graduate seats and post-graduate seats. Further, under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) support has been provided to Himachal Pradesh for upgradation of 02 Government medical colleges at Tanda & Shimla by setting up of Super Specialty blocks. Further, AIIMS at Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh has also been established.

Under CSS financial support has been provided to Maharashtra for increase of 700 MBBS seats in 14 medical colleges for Rs. 839.86 Crore and 692 post-graduate seats in 11 medical college for Rs. 345.79 Crore has been provided for upgradation of existing state government/ central government medical colleges for increasing MBBS under-graduate seats and post-graduate seats. Further, under PMSSY support has been provided to the state for upgradation of 6 Government medical colleges at Mumbai, Nagpur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Latur, Akola & Yavatmal by setting up of Super Specialty blocks. Further, AIIMS at Nagpur in Maharashtra has also been established.

Regarding upgradation of existing state government/ central government medical colleges for increasing MBBS under-graduate seats and post-graduate seats, financial support has been provided to Uttar Pradesh for increase of 432 MBBS seats in 7 medical colleges for Rs. 518.39 Crore and 556 post-graduate seats in 12 Medical College for Rs. 375.92 crore under CSS. Further, under PMSSY support has been provided to the state for upgradation of 11 government medical colleges at Lucknow, Varanasi, Aligarh, Jhansi, Gorakhpur, Prayagraj, Meerut, Agra & Kanpur by setting up of Super Specialty blocks. Further, AIIMS at Rae Bareli & Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh have also been established.

The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.