Over 70% increase in medical UG and PG seats since 2014: Health Minister

Medical undergraduate seats in India increased by 72% and postgraduate seats by 78%, said Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar in a written reply in the Parliament.

Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar informed Rajya Sabha that as per National Medical Commission (NMC), the number of undergraduate medical seats have increased by 72% after 2014. Before 2014, the total UG seats were 51,348 and it increased to 88,120 seats to date. PG seats including DNB and CPS were 31,185 before 2014 and now it is 55,595 seats, an increase of 78%.

Since 2014, 132 government medical colleges and 77 private medical colleges have been approved by the NMC. Out of these, 21 government medical colleges and 16 private medical colleges have been granted in Uttar Pradesh. Moreover, under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for 'Establishment of new medical colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals', 27 medical colleges in Uttar Pradesh have got approval and 13 medical colleges are in a functional state. The CSS is being administered by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The prolonged Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the significance of a robust health care infrastructure in the country. The Central government and state governments are working towards notching up the health care infrastructure of India to deal with future pandemics. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said many times that his government is working towards establishing at least one medical college in each district to increase the health care facilities in every district of India.

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