Centre urges states to expedite completion of new medical colleges

The Centre has urged 14 states to expedite the completion of new medical colleges which are being developed under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme.

After the Covid-19 pandemic, India is working to upgrade its healthcare facilities to be prepared for future pandemics. In line with this, states are getting funds from the Centre under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme to develop at least one medical college in each district of India. The Centre has urged 14 states to accelerate the utilisation of central funds and expedite the completion of these colleges for the early commencement of UG courses.

Union Health Secretary highlighted slow pace of progress

Rajesh Bhushan, Union Health Secretary reviewed the medical colleges' progress that is being developed in these states under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme and highlighted the slow pace of progress. The states that participated in the review meeting include &K, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Jharkhand, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and A&N Islands, as reported by Economic Times.

He urged the states to complete the projects soon so that the UG courses can be started by 2023-24. Also, he pointed out that March 31, 2024, is the last date of the scheme hence the projects need to be completed before that date.

"Due to the slow pace of expenditure of the States/UTs and since there has been no requisition for release of funds from the states, further release of funds by the Centre to States cannot take place. States were further informed that utilization certificates have to be furnished urgently without delay to enable the Centre to release balance funds," said a statement by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, as reported by Mint.

"States were advised to explore and use locally relevant and green technology options, and steel composite structures for the projects which are yet to start. It was also pointed out that some of the projects seem to be languishing as the construction companies lack requisite experience regarding the building of hospitals and provision of associated specialized services," added the statement.

Centrally Sponsored Scheme Details

The Government of India launched the CSS for "Establishment of new medical colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals" in January 2014, with fund sharing between the Central Government and States/UTs in the ratio of 90:10 for NE/ special category states and 60:40 for other states.

Since 2014, as many as 157 new medical colleges have been sanctioned under this scheme which is in three phases so far. A sum of INR 7,500 crore has been allotted for the schemes of Human Resources for Health (HRH) and Medical Education (ME) for the financial year 2022-23

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