As informed by the National Medical Commission (NMC) there are 358 Government and 296 Private Medical Colleges in the country as of now. 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. Under the scheme, a total of 157 medical colleges have been sanctioned in three phases 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.
The Ministry also provides financial support to existing government medical colleges for Civil Works and procurement of equipment & furniture under Centrally Sponsored Schemes for upgradation of existing State Government/ Central Government Medical Colleges for increasing MBBS (UG) seats and PG seats. Under these Schemes support has been provided for increase of 4677 MBBS seats in 77 colleges,4058 PG seats in phase-I in 72 colleges and 3858 PG seats in phase-II in 60 colleges in the country.
In addition, under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), a total of 75 projects have been approved for upgradation in the country to improve tertiary health infrastructure through construction of Super Specialty Blocks / Trauma Care Centres etc. and procurement of medical equipment. Further, 22 AIIMS have been approved for establishment.
The details of funds released under the above schemes during last three years are as under:
| Scheme | Funds released (Rs. in Crore) | ||
| 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | |
| Establishment of new Medical Colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals | 2044.91 | 5069.20 | 5005.00 |
| Strengthening/ upgradation of existing State Government/Central Government Medical Colleges to increase the number of MBBS and PG seats | 1316.10 | 316.80 | 46.40 |
| Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana | 6876.47 | 7360.23 | 9601.31 |
Further, release of funds under these schemes are based on the pace of expenditure, submission of Utilization Certificates, release of corresponding state share and demand from the States/UTs.
The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
