Lok Sabha Question No. 4958 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-31
Subject: Affordable Medical Education
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Raksha Nikhil Khadse

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4958 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31 ST   MARCH, 2023

## AFFORDABLE MEDICAL EDUCATION

## 4958. SHRIMATI RAKSHA NIKHIL KHADSE:

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

- (a) the schemes introduced by the Government to improve health facilities in the country during the last five years; and
- (b) the details of National Medical Commission Act, 2019 enacted to provide improved access to quality and affordable medical education?

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

(a) & (b): NHM envisages achievement of universal access to equitable, affordable & quality health care services that are accountable and responsive to people's needs. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides technical and financial support to the States/UTs to strengthen the public healthcare system, based on the proposals received in the form of Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) under National Health Mission. Government of India provides approval for the proposals in the form of Record of Proceedings (RoPs) as per norms & available resources.

Major schemes introduced by the Government to improve health facilities in the country during last five years are as under:

Ayushman Bharat - Health & Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs): In February 2018, the Government of  India  announced  1,50,000  Ayushman  BharatHealth  and  Wellness  Centres  (AB-HWCs)  to  be established across the country by December 2022. The existing Sub- Health Centres (SHC), Primary Health Centres (PHC) and Urban Primary Health Centres (UPHC) are transformed into AB-HWCs to  deliver  Comprehensive  Primary  Health  Care  (CPHC)  that  includes  preventive,  promotive, curative, palliative and rehabilitative services which are universal, free, and closer to the community.

As  on  28.02.2023  a  total  of  1,57,698  AB-HWCs  have  been  operationalized  across  the country.

Ayushman Bharat - PradhanMantri Jan ArogyaYojana(AB-PMJAY) which provides health coverage up to Rs. 5.00 lakh per family per year to around identified 10.74 crore poor and vulnerable families identified based on Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC) data.

Fifteen Finance Commission: Health sector grants through local government has recommended grants aggregating to Rs. 70,051 Crores over the period of five years (2021-2026) through local government to strengthen the healthcare system in states.

Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PMABHIM) with an outlay of  Rs.  64,180  Crores  aims  to  fill  critical  gaps  in  public  health  infrastructure.  It  is  a  Centrally Sponsored Scheme with some Central Sector components. The Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) Components includes support for infrastructure development for Sub-Health Centres, Urban Health and Wellness Centres, Support for 3382 BPHUs, 730 Integrated District Public Health Laboratories and 602 Critical Care Hospital Blocks.

National  Medical  Commission  Act,  2019  provides  for  a  medical  education  system  that improves access to quality and affordable medical education and ensures availability of adequate and high quality medical professionals in all parts of the country. NMC has taken following steps to improve quality & affordability of medical education

- 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.
2. ii) Enhancement of age limit for appointment/ extension / re-employment against post of teachers / Dean / Principal/ Director in medical colleges upto 70 years.
3. iii) The  ratio  of  teachers  to  students  has  been  rationalized  to  increase  the  number  of postgraduate medical seats in the country.
4. iv) Relaxation of norms for setting up of medical college in teams of requirements of faculty staff, bed strength & other infrastructure.

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 / equipment and infrastructure.

NMC Act, 2019 also provides for framing of guidelines for determination of fees and all other charges in respect of fifty percent (50%) of seats in private medical institutions and deemed to be universities which are governed under the provisions of the Act. Accordingly, National Medical Commission (NMC) has framed the guidelines and the same were issued on 03.02.2022.

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