Lok Sabha Question No. 3387 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-05
Subject: Medical Education Curriculum
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: M. K. Raghavan

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3387 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05 TH  AUGUST, 2022

## MEDICAL EDUCATION CURRICULUM

## 3387 SHRI M.K. RAGHAVAN:

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

- (a)  whether the Government has observed that medical education curriculum standards widely differ  across  Sates  in  the  country  and  if  so,  the  steps  taken  to  ensure  a  uniform  standard  of medical education across the country;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  has  observed  a  demand  supply  gap  in  medical  education  in  the country  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  corrective  steps  being  taken  to  overcome  this problem; and
- (c) whether the Government has observed that the number of NABL accredited labs in medical colleges in the country is low and if so, the steps being taken to ensure that medical labs in all medical colleges are accredited by NABL?

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

(a)  to  (c):  As  informed  by  the  National  Medical  Commission(NMC),  the  Under  Graduate Medical education curriculum taught in Medical colleges recognized by NMC is governed by Graduate Medical Education Regulations as amended. The NMC to maintain high standards of medical education in  India  has  introduced  the  New Competency based Medical Education for Undergraduate Course Curriculum from the academic session 2019-20.

The  number  of  UG  seats  have  increased  from  51,348  before  2014  to  91927  seats  as  on  date which is an increase of 79%. The numbers of PG seats have increased by 93% from 31,185 seats before  2014  to  60202  seats . The  Government  has  taken  several  steps  to  further  increase  the availability of Undergraduate and Postgraduate seats which includes:-

- 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 72 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  58  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.
- viii.     The tenure of Senior Residency for appointment of Assistant Professor have reduced from three year to one year.

ix.     Under the District Residency Programme (DRP), all the doctors admitted to PG courses from 2022 onwards, to serve in the district hospitals for three months mandatorily.

As informed by Quality Council of India (QCI), as on date NABL has accredited 286 laboratories in Medical  colleges.  QCI-NABL  to  increase  the  NABL  accredited  labs  in  Medical  Colleges  conducts Awareness Programs to sensitize medical colleges about requirements of NABL accreditation.

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