New Delhi: Smt. Anupriya Patel, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, recently briefed the Lok Sabha about the government's efforts to enhance medical education and raise medical standards in India. She reported that several initiatives have been implemented to boost medical education facilities, leading to a notable increase in the number of medical colleges, as well as MBBS and PG seats in the country over the past five years.

The minister provided this information in a written statement, addressing questions raised by Dr. Sumer Singh Solanki, Ms. Indu Bala Goswami, and Ms. Kavita Patidar regarding the government's strategies to expand and strengthen medical institutions and the progress made in this area during the last five years.

In her response, Smt. Anupriya Patel detailed the following measures taken by the government:

1. Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for establishing new medical colleges by upgrading district or referral hospitals. A total of 157 new medical colleges have been approved, with 131 already operational.

2. CSS for upgrading existing state and central government medical colleges to increase MBBS (UG) and PG seats. This initiative has led to the addition of 4,977 MBBS seats across 83 colleges, with an approved budget of Rs. 5,972.20 Cr. Additionally, 4,058 PG seats were added in Phase I in 72 colleges with a cost of Rs. 1,498.43 Cr, and Phase II saw the creation of 4,000 PG seats in 65 colleges, amounting to Rs. 4,478.25 Cr.

3. Upgradation of government medical colleges under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) by constructing super specialty blocks. Of the 75 approved projects, 69 have been completed.

4. Central Sector Scheme for the establishment of new AIIMS, under which 22 AIIMS have been approved, with undergraduate courses already in progress in 19 of these institutions.

5. Recognition of DNB qualifications for faculty recruitment to address the shortage of medical educators.

6. Extension of the age limit for faculty appointments (including teachers, deans, principals, and directors in medical colleges) to up to 70 years.

Furthermore, Smt. Patel highlighted that the number of medical colleges in India has grown from 539 in 2019-20 to 780 in 2024-25. Likewise, MBBS seats have increased from 80,312 to 118,137, and PG seats have expanded from 44,928 to 73,157 during this period.