13,436 Medical seats Added during 2024-25 academic year: MoS Health

In the recently held Parliament session, MP Samik Bhattacharya sought to know from the MoS Health whether Government has decided to add 75,000 medical seats in the next five years in Medical Colleges, whether Government has introduced or plans to introduce any new scheme for opening new medical colleges, particularly in underserved and rural areas and if so, the details thereof; and the role of private sector participation in achieving the target of increasing medical seats, and whether any incentives are being considered to facilitate this expansion?

While responding to the series of questions asked by the MP, MoS Health Anupriya Patel informed that in recent years, the Government has taken several measures to increase the number of medical colleges, which subsequently increased medical seats. There is an increase of 101.5% in medical colleges from 387 before 2014 to 780 as of now. Further, there is an increase of 130% in MBBS seats from 51,348 before 2014 to 1,18,190 as of now, there is also an increase of 138% in PG seats from 31,185 before 2014 to 74,306 as of now. A total of 13,436 medical seats were increased during the 2024-25 academic year itself.