Proposal to increase number of MBBS seats in CCEA

Proposal to raise number of MBBS seats in CCEA

A proposal for increasing the number of MBBS seats is slated for consideration of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 09th Jan.

As per the proposal, the Ministry is seeking financial allocation to the tune of over Rs 10,000 crore for increasing around 10,000 more MBBS seats in recognised government medical colleges in the country.

The proposal is aimed at increasing the number of doctors to help bring down the doctor-patient ratio from the current 1:2000 to 1:1000. At present, there are around 50,000 MBBS seats across the country and government is keen to increase them to address the issue of shortage of doctors.

The central assistance share under the proposal will be to the tune of Rs 8,457.40 crore and the State / UTs share will be of Rs 2,513.70 crore.

Government is aiming at increasing the MBBS seats across the country to increase doctors for helping to reduce the disease burden and work in the unserved areas of the country, especially in the rural hinterland.

Only last week, government cleared a proposal of the Health Ministry to set up 58 new medical colleges in states with central assistance and upgradation of district hospitals, thus helping create 5,800 more MBBS seats.

The establishment of 58 new medical colleges by upgradation of existing district hospitals in deficient states will help increase the intake capacity of 100 MBBS seats in each medical college.

Under the scheme, while funding pattern of states will be 75:25 under the scheme, it will be 90:10 by central and state Governments respectively for northeastern states and special category States.

The total cost of establishment of one medical college is about Rs 189 crore. The distance between the district or referral hospital and the new medical college to be set up under the centrally- sponsored scheme will be within 10 kms and on two pieces of land.

At present, there are a total of 381 medical colleges in the country with 49,918 MBBS seats registered with the apex medical regulator - the Medical Council of India.

PTI