Lok Sabha Question No. 2997 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-13
Subject: Medical Colleges in Andhra Pradesh
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Dr. Byreddy Shabari

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRY OFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2997 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13 th DECEMBER 2024

## MEDICALCOLLEGES IN ANDHRAPRADESH

## 2997. DR. BYREDDYSHABARI:

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

- (a) whether the Government proposes to set up medical colleges in every district in Government and private sectors in the country including tribal areas particularly in Andhra Pradesh;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the time by which the said colleges are likely to be set up State/UT-wise; and

(c) the steps taken by the Government to make health more inclusive and affordable for ordinary citizens of the country?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY

## WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYAPATEL)

(a) to (c): 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. The fund sharing mechanism between the Centre and State Governments is in the ratio of 90:10 for North Eastern and Special Category States, and 60:40 for others. Under the Scheme, all the envisaged 157 Government medical colleges have already been approved including 38 medical colleges in tribal districts. Further, under this scheme, 03 medical colleges (Piduguralla, Paderu and Machilipatnam) have also been approved in Andhra Pradesh. Out of those, medical colleges at Paderu and Machilipatnam are functional.

National Health Mission (NHM) envisages universal access to equitable, affordable & quality health care services that are accountable and responsive to people's needs by supporting the States/UTs in providing financial and technical support for accessible, affordable and quality healthcare, especially to the poor and vulnerable sections in urban, rural, and tribal/hilly areas.

In February 2018, the Government of India announced establishment of 1,50,000 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) erstwhile Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs), across the country by December 2022. As updated by the States/UTs in AAM portal, a total of 1,74,966 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have been established and operationalized till 31.10.2024, by transforming existing Sub-Health Centres (SHC) and Primary Health Centres (PHC) in rural and urban areas to deliver the expanded range of comprehensive primary healthcare services with complete 12 package of services that includes preventive, promotive, curative, palliative and rehabilitative services which are universal, free, and closer to the community.

The teleconsultation services, available at operational AAMs, enables people to access the specialist services closer to their homes addressing concerns of physical accessibility, saving cost to care, shortage of service providers and to ensure continuum of care. Total teleconsultation conducted at Ayushman Arogya Mandir including Ayushman Melas are 29.66 cr as on 31.10.2024.

PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) was launched by Hon'ble Prime Minister of India for an amount of Rs.64,180 crore. The measures under the PMABHIM focus on developing capacities of health systems and institutions across the continuum of care at all levels, primary, secondary and tertiary, to prepare health systems in responding effectively to the current and future pandemics /disasters.

This Ministry supports 'Free Diagnostics Service Initiative' programme under NHM with the aim to provide accessible and affordable pathological and radiological diagnostics services closer to the community, which in turn reduces the Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE). Diagnostics services are provided free of cost at all levels of public health facilities (14 tests at Sub Centers, 63 at Primary Health Centers, 97 at Community Health Centres, 111 test at Sub District Hospitals and 134 tests at District Hospitals).

To ensure availability of essential drugs and reduce the OOPE of the patients visiting the public health facilities, Government has rolled out the Free Drugs Service Initiative under NHM. This includes financial support to States/UTs for 106 drugs at SHC level, 172 at PHC level, 300 at CHC level, 318 at SDH level and 381 drugs at district Hospitals.

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