Question : Relaxation of Norms to Set up Medical College

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

(a) whether the Government has relaxed the norms for setting up medical colleges, nursing colleges, pharmacy colleges etc. in the remote, bordering, hilly and backward areas of the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether these norms are reviewed by the stakeholders after certain period and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(d) whether any schemes to affiliate the medical colleges with the Government hospitals is under consideration of the Ministry; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)
(a) & (b): With regard to establishing medical college in hilly areas, notified tribal areas, north eastern States and Union Territories of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Lakshadweep, the requirement of land has been relaxed. In the North Eastern States and Hill States, the requirement of bed strength and bed occupancy is also relaxed. Further, the specialist doctors/consultants working in the District Hospitals which are attached to medical colleges have been allowed equated designation to serve as medical faculty to facilitate the setting up of new medical colleges in underserved areas.
The Indian Nursing Council has relaxed norms to opening of Nursing colleges which are as follows:
(i) Student patient ratio has been relaxed from 1:5 to 1:3
(ii) The land from 5 acres has been relaxed to construct building of 54,000 sq. ft. for School/College of Nursing and Hostel.
(iii) To open GNM and B.Sc. (Nursing) programme for academic year 2013-14 100 bedded parent hospital is essential. However, this is relaxed for hilly and tribal areas.
(iv) Relaxed norms for teaching faculty to start B.Sc. (N) Programme.
• At least 2 M.Sc. (N) faculty to be available
• Qualification and Experience of the Nursing Teachers has been relaxed.
• Sharing of teaching faculty for both Diploma and Graduate Programme.
(v) Relaxation for opening M.Sc. (N) programme. Super speciality Hospital can start M.Sc. (N) without having under graduate programme.
• Relaxation of teacher student ratio for M.Sc.(N) programme has been relaxed from 1:5 to 1:10
(vi) Admission for Nursing allowed for married candidates.
(vii) Age increased for Teaching Faculty up to 70 years.
(viii) Distance from school to hospital has been relaxed from 15 km to 30 km however for hilly and tribal areas the maximum distance is 50 Km.
(c): The Central Government has constituted a Group of Experts (GoE) under the Chairmanship of Dr. Hari Gautam, Former Chairman, UGC in April, 2016 on revision of Minimum Standard Requirements (MSRs). Recommendations of GoE have been discussed with MCI and accordingly necessary changes have been made in the Minimum Standard Requirement Regulations, 1999.
(d) & (e): The government is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for “Establishment of new medical colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals” with fund sharing between the Central Government and States in the ratio of 90:10 for NE/special category states and 60:40 for other states. The total cost of establishment of one Medical College under the scheme is Rs.189 crore. 58 districts in 20 States/UT have been identified under this Scheme to establish new Medical Colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals. Out of these, 56 have been approved till date. Funds to the tune of Rs.5188.42 crore have been released to the State/UT Governments for the approved districts under the Scheme. Under the Scheme, eight Medical Colleges are already functional.
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