Question : Medical Colleges

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) the number of medical colleges in the country along with the total number of medical seats available, State/UT-wise;

(b) the existing norms for establishing new medical colleges in the country and increasing seats in them;

(c) whether the Government proposes to open new medical colleges by relaxing the existing norms in view of the increasing demand of doctors in the country, if so, the details thereof State/UT-wise;

(d) whether the Government has received a number of proposals/application from various States for opening new medical colleges and increasing the seats in the existing medical colleges, if so, the details thereof and action taken thereon;

(e) whether the Government has taken note of large number of seats in private medical colleges being sold for huge sums, if so, whether the Government is planning to set up an independent body to look into such money laundering practices, if so, the details thereof; and

(f) whether the Government has assessed/conducted any survey of the performance of doctors who passed out from private medical colleges, if so, the findings thereof and corrective measures taken thereon?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)
(a) Statement is at annexure A.




(b) Permission to new Medical Colleges/ increase of seats in existing medical colleges is governed under Section 10 A of Indian Medical Council Act, 1956. The minimum requirements in terms of infrastructure, faculty and clinical material for 50/ 100/ 150/ 200/ 250 students admission is prescribed separately under the Minimum Standard Requirement Regulations, 1999 of MCI. The permission is granted by Central Government on the recommendation of Medical Council of India which causes an assessment of facilities as prescribed under the regulations.
(c) To facilitate the setting up of new medical colleges, the minimum standard requirements for 50/100/150 intake capacity were rationalized and notified by MCI in July, 2015. The Central Government is also implementing a Centrally sponsored scheme for establishment of new medical colleges attached with district/ referral Hospitals in underserved areas of the country.
(d) The Central Government received 85 applications for establishment and 27 applications for increase of seats in existing medical colleges for the academic session 2017-18. State/ UT wise list is at Annexure B. The applications received have been forwarded to MCI for evaluation and recommendation

(e)In case of private medical colleges, the fee structure is decided by a Committee set up by the respective State Governments under the chairmanship of a retired High Court Judge in pursuance of the directions of Hon’ble Supreme Court of India. It is for the Committee to decide whether the fee proposed by an institute is justified and the fee fixed by the Committee is binding on the institute.
(f) No. The Central Government has introduced the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test [NEET] for admission to all medical courses including in private medical colleges.

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