Union Health Ministry: Over 157 New Medical Colleges Approved Since 2014; Detailed Report Here

In the official response to an RTI query, the Union Health Ministry has shared a report with the authority which states that over 157 medical colleges have been approved by the ministry since 2014 with funds of over funds of 17,691.08 crore under the centrally sponsored scheme.

Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the MoHFW responded to a query filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The query was filed by the Noida-based RTI activist Amit Gupta on the number of medical colleges in India started in the past 10 years.

In response to the query, the ministry stated that under National Medical Commission (NMC), over 554 medical colleges, including 286 government-run and 268 private college data have been cited.

The ministry further said, “Under the scheme, 157 new medical colleges have been approved across the country in three phases. The first phase of this scheme was launched in 2014. A fund of Rs 17,691.08 crore has been spent by the Central government during this period”.

Adding to the statement, the ministry stated that under the centrally-sponsored scheme, the ministry has provided over Rs 2,451.1 crore funds for the development of existing state government and public medical colleges in the country.

From 2019 till 2021, over Rs, 1,743.89 crores has been spent by the central and state government on new medical college inauguration as well as in starting new postgraduate medical courses in colleges to increase medical seats for admission.

While talking about the CSS scheme, the MoHFW said that the medical education (ME II) section is responsible for taking care of centrally-sponsored scheme (CSS) related activities.

The Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare includes various activities related to the establishment of new medical colleges as well as upgrading existing ones to offer better medical facilities in the country.

As per the latest updates, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the inauguration of seven new medical colleges in Uttar Pradesh on October 25, 2021. The colleges will commence in order to offer the best medical facilities to the people of Uttar Pradesh and neighboring states.