Cabinet approves schemes worth Rs 14,930 crore to boost health and medical sector

New Delhi: Schemes worth about Rs 14,930 crore to boost the availability of human resources for health and medical sector was approved by the Union Cabinet on Wednesday. It includes the establishment of 24 new medical colleges in unreserved areas.

The establishment of new medical colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals will take place by 2021-22.

18,058 undergraduate and postgraduate seats will also be increased in medical colleges by 2020-21, according to an official statement. The government also plans to set up 248 nursing and midwifery schools.

I am heartily thankful to Hon. Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji & members of Union Cabinet for the #CabinetDecision today to boost health and medical education in India through human resources. A visionary step towards #AyushmanBharat pic.twitter.com/0R2fpEC88A — Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) February 7, 2018

#CabinetDecision: Continuation of ongoing scheme to establish 24 new medical colleges attached with existing District/Referral hospitals is a big step in strengthening medical healthcare. Will result in #AyushmanBharat.

— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) February 7, 2018

#CabinetDecision will lead to increase in 10,000 UG seats and 8058 PG seats through up-gradation of existing State Government/Central Government Medical colleges. Provide skilled human resources for India. #AyushmanBharat pic.twitter.com/68XGcr6Oo1 — Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) February 7, 2018

#CabinetDecision: Continuation & completion of scheme for setting up of ANM & GNM schools in under-served districts of the country. #MoHFW #AyushmanBharat #SwasthaBharat @JPNadda @AshwiniKChoubey @AnupriyaSPatel pic.twitter.com/XFYvBkEGW0 — Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) February 7, 2018

#CabinetDecision: Continuation of centrally sponsored scheme for upgradation of #State & #Central Government Medical colleges to increase UG & PG seats. #MoHFW #AyushmanBharat #SwasthaBharat @JPNadda @AshwiniKChoubey @AnupriyaSPatel pic.twitter.com/CMf5QZazfk — Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) February 7, 2018

It has been planned to ensure at least one medical college for every 3-5 Parliamentary constituencies and at least one government medical colleges in the state.

The location of new medical colleges will be selected by the state government within the identified blocks in a "challenge mode".

#CabinetDecision today on augmenting human resources in health sector to have major impact on health outcomes. #MoHFW #AyushmanBharat #SwasthaBharat #HealthForAll @JPNadda @AshwiniKChoubey @AnupriyaSPatel pic.twitter.com/rII4qJ1WAj — Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) February 7, 2018

Impact of #CabinetDecision: As per #SDGs, ensuring #healthy living & promoting well-being is essential. @WHO recommends 1 doctor for 1,000 people. Health & Medical Education Scheme to attain the same. #MoHFW #SwasthaBharat #AyushmanBharat @JPNadda @AshwiniKChoubey @AnupriyaSPatel pic.twitter.com/pEqR8tNDVR — Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) February 7, 2018

The scheme will serve to create additional 10,000 MBBS and 8,000 PG seats in the country, bridge the gap in number of seats available in government and private sector, mitigate the shortage of doctors and medical faculty in India by increasing the number of seats and to achieve the desired doctor- population ratio and upgrade PG teaching facilities in government medical colleges, as per the official statement. 

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The establishment of the new colleges and increase of MBBS and PG seats would increase the availability of health professionals, check the existing geographical distribution of medical colleges in the country, it added.

It will promote affordable medical education in the country, utilise the existing infrastructure of district hospitals and improve tertiary care in the government sector, the statement further said.

(With PTI inputs)