The number of medical colleges in the country has increased by 82% since 2014, from 387 before 2014 to 704 now, and the number of MBBS seats has increased by 110% during the same period, from 51,348 to 1,07,948, Parliament was informed later this week. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said in a written response to a question in the Lok Sabha that the number of post-graduate (PG) medical seats in the country has increased by 117%, from 31,185 in 2014 to 67,802 now.

"The government has increased the number of medical colleges and subsequently, increased the MBBS seats," he said.

"There has been an 82% increase in medical colleges, from 387 before 2014 to 704 now." Furthermore, the number of MBBS seats has increased by 110 percent, from 51,348 in 2014 to 1,07,948 today.

"There has also been a 117% increase in PG seats, from 31,185 before 2014 to 67,802 now," Mandaviya said.

The CSS was implemented to strengthen and upgrade existing state government or Centre-run medical colleges in order to increase the number of MBBS (both undergraduate and graduate) seats. Support has been provided to add 4,677 MBBS seats in 77 colleges at a cost of Rs 5,612.25 crore, 4,058 PG seats in 72 colleges at a cost of Rs 1,498.43 crore, and 3,957 PG seats in 62 colleges at a cost of Rs 4,461.44 crore in the second phase.

According to the minister, 75 projects have been approved under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) for "upgradation of government medical colleges by construction of super-specialty blocks."

Under the CSS for setting up new all India institute of medical sciences, 22 such institutes have been approved, he added.

Undergraduate courses have started in 19 of those, Mandaviya said.

Accordingly, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has framed the guidelines and the same were issued on February 3, 2022, the minister said.