Lok Sabha Question No. 4835 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-01
Subject: Cost of Medical Education
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Prajwal Revanna, Kaushalendra Kumar, Satyadev Pachauri

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4835 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01 st  APRIL, 2022

## COST OF MEDICAL EDUCATION

## 4835    SHRI PRAJWAL REVANNA: SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR: SHRI SATYADEV PACHAURI:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware that students are going abroad for medical education due to high cost and lack of seats in the country;
- (b) if so, the details of average fee for medical (MBBS) education in the country;
- (c)  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  strengthen  medical  education  potential  and capacity in the country and ensure its affordability thereof;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  is  also  aware  that  Karnataka  is  having  the  highest  number  of medical colleges in the country but due to NEET examination, the local students are compelled to study outside the State; and
- (e) if so, the details of provision/guidelines of seat sharing for local students in medical colleges?

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

- (a)  to  (e)  :  Clause  (i)  of  Sub-section  (1)  of  Section  10  of  National  Medical  Commission  Act, 2019 provides for framing of guidelines for determination of fees and all other charges in respect of fifty percent of seats in private medical institutions and deemed to be universities which are governed  under  the  provisions  of  the  Act.  Accordingly,  National  Medical  Commission  has framed the guidelines and the same was issued on 03.02.2022.

The  Government  has  taken  following  steps  to  strengthen  medical  education  potential  and capacity  in  the  country.  The  number  of  UG  seats  have  increased  from  51,348  before  2014  to 89875 seats as of date which is an increase of 75%. The numbers of PG seats have increased by 93% from 31,185 seats before 2014 to 60202 seats .

The steps to increase the seats include: -

- i. Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  for  establishment  of  new  medical  college  by  upgrading district/ referral hospital under which 157 new medical colleges have been approved and 71 are already functional.
- ii. Centrally Sponsored Scheme for strengthening/ upgradation of existing State Government/Central Government Medical Colleges to increase MBBS and PG seats.
- iii. Central Sector Scheme for upgradation of Government Medical Colleges by construction of  Super  Specialty  Blocks.  A  total  of  75  projects  have  been  approved  and  55  have  been completed.
- iv. Under  Central  Sector  Scheme  for  setting  up  of  new  AIIMS,  22  AIIMS  have  been approved. Undergraduate courses have started in 19 AIIMS.
- 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  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.

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