From 387 to 706: Number of medical colleges in India up by 82% since 2014

New Delhi: Centre today said there has been an 82 % increase in the number of medical colleges from 387 before 2014 to 706 at present.

Further, there has been an increase of 112% in MBBS seats from 51,348 before 2014 to 1,08,940 at present while there has also been an increase of 127 % in PG seats from 31,185 before 2014 to 70,645.

The data was provided by the union health minister in response to a query about the status of medical colleges, medical seats, and steps taken by the government to improve the quality of medical education.

Member of Parliament (MP) Poonam Mahajan, from Mumbai North Central, and Dr B Venkata Satyavathi, MP from Anakapalle, Andhra Pradesh, had put forth a few questions in the Lok Sabha before the Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya early this month.

The MPs asked whether the government has taken adequate measures to increase the number of medical colleges and undergraduate and postgraduate seats in the country to meet the medical standards as recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO). If so, the government should provide the details along with the number of medical colleges established and seats increased --State and Union Territory-wise -- during the last five years and the current year.

The details of the government and private medical colleges along with the total intake capacity in the country, State and UT-wise were also sought. The MPs further asked whether the government has taken steps to improve the quality of medical education in the country and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons for it as well.

Increase in medical colleges, MBBS & PG seats since 2014

Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, informed that the government has increased the number of medical colleges and subsequently increased MBBS seats. There has been an increase of 82% in medical colleges from 387 before 2014 to 706 at present. Further, there has been an increase of 112% in MBBS seats from 51,348 before 2014 to 1,08,940 as of now, there is also an increase of 127 % in PG seats from 31,185 before 2014 to 70,645 as of now.

Moreover, during the last five years, the number of medical colleges has increased from 499 in 2018-19 to 648 in 2022-23 along with an increase in MBBS seats from 70,012 seats in 2018-19 to 96,077 seats in 2022-23. The PG seats have also increased from 39,583 in 2018-19 to 64,059 in 2022-23.

Phase-wise upgradation of medical colleges underway

Elaborating on the measures taken by the government to augment the medical education facilities and to improve the medical standards in the country, the minister informed that the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) has been introduced for the establishment of new medical colleges by upgrading district/ referral hospitals under which 157 new medical colleges have been approved, out of which 108 are already functional.

Phase-wise strengthening or upgradation of existing State Government/ Central Government medical colleges is underway to increase the number of MBBS (UG) and PG seats, under which support has been provided for increase of 4,977 MBBS seats in 83 colleges with an approved cost of Rs 5,972.20 crore, 4,058 PG seats in phase-I in 72 colleges with an approved cost of Rs. 1498.43 crore and 4,000 PG seats in phase-II in 65 colleges with an approved cost of Rs. 4,475.25 crore.

Under the ‘Upgradation of Government medical colleges by construction of Super Specialty Blocks’ component of Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), a total of 75 projects have been approved, of which 64 projects are complete.

UG courses commenced in 19 out of 22 approved AIIMS

The health minister also informed that under the Central Sector Scheme for setting up of new AIIMS, 22 AIIMS have been approved. Undergraduate courses have started in 19 of these. DNB qualification has been recognized for appointment as teaching faculty to take care of the shortage of faculty. The age limit for appointment, extension, and re-employment against posts of teachers/dean/principal/ director in medical colleges has been extended to 70 years.

The State/UT-wise details of medical colleges along with their intake capacity for the current academic year 2023-24.

The State/UT-wise details of the number of Medical Colleges, MBBS seats, and PG seats for 2018-19 and 2022-23.