18635 MBBS seats, 118 new medical colleges added in last 5 years: Health Minister

New Delhi: During the last five years, 118 new medical colleges have been established and the MBBS intake capacity has been increased by 18635 seats during the same period.

Information to this effect was recently given by Shri Ashwani Kumar Choubey, the Minister of State at the Ministry of Health and family welfare to the Lok Sabha recently.

The minister was responding to the question of whether the Government is taking concrete steps to provide opportunity in the field of medical education in the country and stop the migration of youth.

The minister informed that the Government has taken various measures to increase the availability of medical seats in the country. 82 Government medical colleges have been approved under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for the establishment of new medical colleges in underserved areas in 21 States/UTs. There is another scheme for strengthening/ upgradation of existing State Government/Central Government Medical Colleges to increase MBBS seats. The government has also relaxed the norms for Medical College in terms of requirement for land, faculty, staff, bed strength and other infrastructure to facilitate the setting up of new medical colleges. During the last five years, 118 new medical colleges have been established. The MBBS intake capacity has been increased by 18635 seats during the same period.

Responding to the question on the migration of youth going abroad particularly to Russia and China to get a medical education the minister informed that Some students migrate abroad including Russia and China for pursuing medical education. Section 13 (4A) of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 prescribes that an Indian citizen who obtains primary medical qualification (undergraduate) granted by any medical institution outside the country shall have to qualify screening test and the foreign medical qualification obtained by such person shall be deemed to be the recognised medical qualification after such person qualifies the said screening test.