Lok Sabha Question No. 4989 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-31
Subject: Medical Colleges by Private Hospitals
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Karti P. Chidambaram

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4989 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31 ST  MARCH, 2023

## MEDICAL COLLEGES BY PRIVATE HOSPITALS

## 4989.  SHRI KARTI P. CHIDAMBARAM:

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

- (a) whether the Government has proposed to get medical colleges set up by private hospitals;
- (b) if so, the details of hospitals that have expressed their interest to start medical colleges for undergraduate and postgraduate courses and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government is aware that Private medical colleges charge exorbitant fee from the students and if so, the details thereof along with the reaction of the Government thereto; and (d) whether the Government has relaxed norms for setting up new medical colleges, if so, the
- details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

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

(a)  to  (d):  Minimum  Requirements  for  Annual  MBBS  Admissions  Regulations,  2020  and Establishment  of  Medical  College  Regulations,  1999  &  amendments  thereto  of  the  National Medical Commission (erstwhile Medical Council of India) stipulates criteria  for  setting  up  of new medical colleges which indicates requirement of faculty, beds, infrastructure, etc.

Clause  2(5)  of  Establishment  of  Medical  College  Regulations,  1999,  prescribes  that  the appropriate  Government  may  allow  the  utilization  of  the  facilities  of  a  hospital  owned  and managed by it for establishing a Medical College by a person/agency/trust/society /company by entering into a Memorandum of Understanding for this purpose.

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.

Further, 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).

The  measures/steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  improve  health  facilities  in  the  Country include:-

- i. Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  (CSS)  for  establishment  of  new  medical  college  by upgrading  district/  referral  hospital  under  which  157  new  medical  colleges  have  been approved, out of which 97 are already functional.
- ii. CSS for strengthening/ upgradation of existing State Government/ Central Government Medical  Colleges  to  increase  the  number  of  MBBS  (UG)  and  PG  seats.  Under  this scheme, support has been provided for increase of 4677 MBBS seats in 77 colleges, 4058 PG seats in Phase-I in 72 colleges and 3858 PG seats in Phase-II in 60 colleges.
- iii. Under 'Upgradation of Government Medical Colleges by construction of Super Specialty Blocks' of  Pradhan  MantriSwasthya  Suraksha  Yojana  (PMSSY) scheme, a total  of  75 projects have been approved, of which 60 projects are complete.
- iv. Under the  Central  Sector  Scheme  for  setting  up  of  new  AIIMS,  22  AIIMS  have  been approved. Undergraduate courses have started in 19 of these.
- v. Relaxation in the norms for setting up of Medical College in terms of requirement for faculty, staff, bed strength and other infrastructure.
- vi. DNB qualification has been recognized for appointment as teaching faculty to take care of shortage of faculty.
- vii. Enhancement  of  age  limit  for  appointment/  extension/  re-employment  against  posts  of teachers/dean/principal/ director in medical colleges upto 70 years.

The National Medical Commission Act, 2019 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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