Cabinet approves Rs 15,000-crore scheme to strengthen India's medical education

Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

The Union Cabinet on September 24 approved a scheme worth Rs 15,034.5 crore for the upgradation of existing state and Central government-led medical colleges and hospitals across the country, Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said.

The third phase of the Centrally-Sponsored Scheme seeks to strengthen state and Central government hospitals, standalone post graduate institutes and government hospitals with an aim to increase PG and MBBS seats by 5,000 and 5,023, respectively with an enhanced cost ceiling of Rs 1.5 crore.

Government said this will help boost the availability of doctors in the country.

“This initiative will significantly augment the undergraduate medical capacity; availability of specialist doctors by creating additional postgraduate seats; and enable introduction of new specialties across government medical institutions. This will strengthen the overall availability of doctors in the country,” a statement said.

The scheme will have a financial implication of Rs 15,034.5 crore for a period of three years from 2025-26 to 2028-29. Out of the total amount, the Central government hospitals will get Rs 10,303.2 crore, while the remaining 4,731.3 crore will be available for state government facilities.

“It will leverage existing infrastructure for cost-effective expansion of tertiary healthcare in the government institutions as expansion of postgraduate seats ensures a steady supply of specialists in critical disciplines,” the government statement added.