How Many Medical Colleges Are There for Indian Students?

Pursuing a career in the field of Medicine is one of the major concerns in India. The aspirants find ways to accomplish their dream of becoming a Doctor, either by receiving an MBBS Degree from India or Overseas. Through this article, let us dive deep into it.

On being queried by Smt. Sangeeta Azad, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar in the Lok Sabha, came up with data that has been released by the Government regarding:
(a) the approximate cost of education for getting an MBBS degree in the country;
(b) whether the cost of medical education in the country is almost double in comparison to that in other countries, particularly in developed countries;
(c) if so, the reasons therefore; and
(d) are the specific steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to improve the Doctor-Patient ratio across the country?
The medical educational set-up in India is categorized as Government and Private Colleges. The Minister, Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar replied to both the sectors. In response to the above-stated questions, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar acknowledged the same as follows:

The different State Governments are in charge of setting the fees for Government Medical Colleges. The fee structure, however, is determined by the Committee established by each State Government, which is chaired by a retired High Court Judge, in accordance with the instructions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India, in the case of private, unaided medical colleges.

How Many Medical Colleges Are There for Indian

However, the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, which is governed by the Act's provisions, calls for the establishment of guidelines for determining fees and all other charges for fifty percent (50%) of seats in private medical institutions and institutions that are deemed to be universities. This is done in an effort to make medical education in the nation more affordable. As a result, the National Medical Commission (NMC) created the guidelines, which were published on 03.02.2022. The country's average cost of education for those pursuing an MBBS degree varies.

The government has raised the number of medical colleges, which has increased the number of MBBS seats as a result. The number of medical colleges has increased by 82%, from 387 in 2014 to 704 as of this writing. Additionally, there has been a 110% growth in MBBS seats from 51348 in 2014 to 107948 in the present, and a 117% increase in PG seats from 31185 in 2014 to 67802 in the present.

According to the NMC, as of June 2022, there were 13,08,009 Allopathic Physicians registered with the State Medical Councils (SMCs) and the NMC. The country's doctor-to-population ratio is 1:834 assuming that there are 5.65 lakh AYUSH practitioners and 80% of certified allopathic physicians are available. The Government initiated the following actions to improve the doctor-to-patient ratio in the nation:

i. Centrally Sponsored Scheme for establishment of the new medical college by upgrading district/ referral hospital under which 107 new medical colleges are already functional out of 157 approved.

ii. Centrally Sponsored Scheme for strengthening/ upgradation of existing State Government/Central Government Medical Colleges to increase MBBS and PG seats.

iii. Under the "Upgradation of Government Medical Colleges by Construction of Super Specialty Blocks" of Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) scheme, a total of 75 projects have been approved, of which 62 projects are complete.

iv. Under the Central Sector Scheme for setting up new AIIMS, 22 AIIMS have been approved. Undergraduate courses have started in 19 of these.

v. Relaxation in the norms for setting up of Medical College in terms of requirements for faculty, staff, bed strength, and other infrastructure.

vi. DNB qualification has been recognized for appointment as faculty to take care of the shortage of faculty.

vii. Enhancement of age limit for appointment/ extension/re-employment against posts of teachers/Dean/Principal/ Director in medical colleges up to 70 years.