New Delhi, Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra has informed all states that district and referral hospitals being converted into medical colleges will continue to receive financial support from the Center under the National Health Mission. Health (NHM), the Ministry of Health said on Wednesday.
The clarification came after certain states and UTs mandated construction of additional district or referral hospitals (DH/RH) due to fear that existing DH/RHs transitioning to medical colleges would stop receiving NHM funds, it said. the ministry in a statement.
In the last nine years, concerted efforts have been made to increase the number of medical colleges.
Currently, there are 706 medical schools in the country. In the last nine years, a total of 319 medical colleges (including private medical colleges) have been added, leading to an 82 per cent increase in the establishment of such institutions, since 2014, the statement said.
India's medical education network has expanded manifold with more focus and investments towards professional and quality education, she added.
The focus has been on reaching underserved areas and addressing the lack of accessibility, the ministry said.
Globally, there has been a constant push to improve the ratio of doctors to population to ensure better access to healthcare services, she said.
A centrally sponsored scheme was introduced in 2014 to provide central financial support for opening new medical colleges by strengthening or upgrading district hospitals.
Three phases of the plan have been implemented to date, under which 157 universities have been sanctioned in line with the objectives of increasing medical professionals, the statement said.
To date, of these 157 medical colleges, 108 have already become operational. Of the 157 approved universities, 40 are located in aspirational districts, which makes it possible to boost investment in these districts, she added.
The clarification came after certain states and UTs mandated construction of additional district or referral hospitals (DH/RH) due to fear that existing DH/RHs transitioning to medical colleges would stop receiving NHM funds, it said. the ministry in a statement.
In the last nine years, concerted efforts have been made to increase the number of medical colleges.
Currently, there are 706 medical schools in the country. In the last nine years, a total of 319 medical colleges (including private medical colleges) have been added, leading to an 82 per cent increase in the establishment of such institutions, since 2014, the statement said.
India's medical education network has expanded manifold with more focus and investments towards professional and quality education, she added.
The focus has been on reaching underserved areas and addressing the lack of accessibility, the ministry said.
Globally, there has been a constant push to improve the ratio of doctors to population to ensure better access to healthcare services, she said.
A centrally sponsored scheme was introduced in 2014 to provide central financial support for opening new medical colleges by strengthening or upgrading district hospitals.
Three phases of the plan have been implemented to date, under which 157 universities have been sanctioned in line with the objectives of increasing medical professionals, the statement said.
To date, of these 157 medical colleges, 108 have already become operational. Of the 157 approved universities, 40 are located in aspirational districts, which makes it possible to boost investment in these districts, she added.
