By Prime Minister Modi
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The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved a major expansion of India’s medical education capacity, aiming to add over 10,000 undergraduate and postgraduate seats across government medical institutions.Under Phase-III of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for strengthening and upgrading State and Central Government medical colleges, standalone PG institutes, and government hospitals, 5,000 new postgraduate seats will be created. Simultaneously, the CSS for upgrading existing government medical colleges will be extended to add 5,023 MBBS seats, with the cost ceiling for each seat enhanced to ₹1.50 crore, according to an official release.— PTI_News (@PTI_News) The initiative is designed to increase the availability of specialist doctors, introduce new medical specialties across government institutions, and strengthen overall healthcare capacity nationwide.Live EventsThe total outlay for both schemes over the period 2025-26 to 2028-29 is ₹15,034.50 crore, with the central government contributing ₹10,303.20 crore and the states covering ₹4,731.30 crore.Expected benefitsOfficials said the schemes will improve access to quality healthcare, particularly in underserved and remote areas, by leveraging existing infrastructure to expand tertiary healthcare cost-effectively. Expanding postgraduate seats ensures a steady supply of specialists in critical disciplines and promotes balanced regional distribution of healthcare resources.Key outcomes anticipated include:Providing more opportunities for students to pursue medical education in India.Raising the quality of medical education to meet global standards.Ensuring adequate availability of doctors and specialists, positioning India as a destination for affordable healthcare.Bridging gaps in healthcare accessibility, especially in rural and remote regions.Generating direct and indirect employment for doctors, faculty, paramedical staff, researchers, administrators, and support services.Strengthening health system resilience and contributing to socio-economic development.Promoting equitable distribution of healthcare infrastructure across States and UTs.Targets and implementationThe schemes aim to add 5,000 PG seats and 5,023 MBBS seats in government institutions by 2028-29. Detailed implementation guidelines will be issued by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH&FW).India currently has 808 medical colleges, the highest globally, with a total intake of 1,23,700 MBBS seats. Over the past decade, 69,352 MBBS seats were added, reflecting a 127% growth, while 43,041 PG seats were created, marking a 143% increase. Despite this growth, certain regions still need increased capacity to meet demand and improve access and affordability.The 22 new All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) established under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana not only provide tertiary care but also train high-standard medical professionals through state-of-the-art teaching facilities.To expand the pool of qualified faculty, the Ministry has issued the New Medical Institution (Qualifications of Faculty) Regulations 2025, adopting a more inclusive and competency-based approach to recruitment.Through these measures, the government aims to build human resources for health, strengthen the healthcare system, and ensure broader access to quality medical services for the people of India.Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now!
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(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)Read More News onmedical education expansionmbbs seats indiapostgraduate medical seatscabinet approval healthcaregovernment medical collegesdoctor shortage indiahealthcare infrastructureministry of health indiamedical colleges indiahealth workforce development(Catch all the Business News, Breaking News, Budget 2025 Events and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Subscribe to The Economic Times Prime and read the ET ePaper online….moreless
