CCEA approves 75 new Government Medical Colleges by 2021-22

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved establishment of 75 additional Government Medical Colleges by 2021-22. These colleges will be attached with existing district/referral hospitals under Phase-III of the ongoing Centrally Sponsored scheme. These wew medical colleges will be set up in under-served areas having no medical college with at least 200 bedded District Hospital. Moreover, preference will be given to aspirational districts and district hospital having 300 beds.

Benefits of establishment of new Medical Colleges

It will lead to increase in availability of qualified health professionals, improve tertiary care in public health sector by utilizing existing infrastructure of districts hospitals and promote affordable medical education in the country. It will lead to addition of at least 15,700 MBBS seats in the country.

Background

Government as part of ‘AyushmanBharat’ has announced two path breaking initiatives that address health holistically, impacting primary, secondary andtertiary care system as well as prevention and health promotion. Under scheme aimed at continuing  focus  on  creation   of  health care  infrastructure, Government  earlier had 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 first phase have already started functioning, while remaining 19 will be made functional by 2020-21. Under second phase of the scheme, 18 new medical colleges were approved.

Month: Current Affairs - August, 2019