Lok Sabha Question No. 5060 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-31
Subject: Health Facilities in Medical Colleges
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Chandeshwar Prasad

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 5060 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31 ST  MARCH, 2023

## HEALTH FACILITIES IN MEDICAL COLLEGES

## †5060. SHRI CHANDESHWAR PRASAD:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  steps  to  fill  large  number  of  vacant  posts  in  medical colleges in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise particularly in Bihar; and
- (c) the details of steps proposed to be taken to resolve the problem of shortage of equipments and infrastructure in medical colleges in the country including Bihar?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a) to (c): The Government has increased number of medical colleges and subsequently increased MBBS seats. There is an increase of 71% in Medical Colleges from 387 before 2014 to 660 as of now. Further, there is an increase of 97% in MBBS seats from 51,348 before 2014 to 101,043 as of now, there is also an increase of 110% in PG seats from 31,185 before 2014 to 65,335 as of now, including, Diplomate of National Board (DNB) / Fellowship of National Board (FNB) PG seats and PG seats in College of Physicians and Surgeons (CPS).

As  informed  by  the  National  Medical  Commission  (NMC),  the  following  steps  have  been undertaken to help filling up of various vacancies in medical colleges in the Country including Bihar:

- (i) The qualification awarded by the Diplomate of National Board (DNB) through National Board of Examinations  (NBE) has been recognized  for  appointment as  faculty  to  take care of shortage of faculty.
- (ii) Enhancement  of  age  limit  for  appointment/  extension/  re-employment  against  posts  of teachers/ Dean/ Principal/ Director in medical colleges upto 70 years.
- (iii)Relaxation  in  the  norms  for  setting  up  of  Medical  College  in  terms  of  requirement  for faculty, staff, bed strength and other infrastructure.
- (iv) The  ratio  of  teachers  to  students  has  been  rationalized  to  increase  the  number  of postgraduate medical seats in the country.

Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for strengthening/ upgradation of existing State Government/  Central  Government  Medical  Colleges  to  increase  PG  seats,  support  has  been provided  for  increase  of  4058  PG  seats  in  Phase-I  in  72  colleges  with  an  approved  cost  of 1498.43 cr and 3858 PG seats in phase-II in 60 colleges with an approved cost of Rs.4343.66 Cr. The financial support has also been provided to the State of Bihar for increase of 314 PG seats in 07 Medical Colleges at a total approved cost of Rs. 212.42 Crore under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS).

Under  the  Pradhan  Mantri Swasthya  Suraksha  Yojana  (PMSSY)  scheme,  support  has  been provided to Government of Bihar for upgradation of 06 Government Medical Colleges by setting up of Super Specialty blocks and also 02 AIIMS at Patna and Darbhanga have been approved.

Further,  the  Ministry  of  Health  &  Family  Welfare  administers  a  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme (CSS)  for  'Establishment  of  new  Medical  Colleges  attached  with  existing  district/referral hospitals'  with  preference  to  underserved  areas  and  aspirational  districts,  where  there  is  no existing Government or private medical college with fund sharing between the Centre and State Governments in the ratio of 90:10 for North Eastern and Special Category States and 60:40 for others.  Under  the  Scheme,  157  Medical  colleges  have  been  approved  in  three  phases  out  of which 97 have become functional. Under the Scheme, all the envisaged 157 Medical colleges have already been approved in three phases, including 08 Medical Colleges in the State of Bihar.

Further, the NMC through Medical Assessment & Rating Board (MARB) carries out inspections of medical institutions before giving any permission for starting/ renewal/ increase of medical seats in the colleges on parameters including faculties/ equipments and infrastructure.

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