16 new Medical Colleges to come up in Punjab

Chandigarh: In a major boost to medical education in Punjab, the state Government has decided to set up 16 new medical colleges in the State in the coming 5 years. 

The confirmation regarding this came from the Finance Minister Harpal Cheema, who announced allotting Rs 1,033 crore for medical education sector during his budget speech on Monday.

This has resulted in a whopping 56.6% increase regarding the allotment for medical education for the academic year 2022-2023.

Apart from setting up the new medical colleges, the AAP Government also announced about its of upgrading the existing government medical colleges in the State.

Also Read: Total MBBS pool of seats up to 89,000

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the MoS Health Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar had informed the Parliament this year that there are a total number of 11 medical colleges in Punjab including 5 government medical colleges and 6 medical colleges run by the private management. The intake capacity at the private medical colleges is for 750 seats, while there are a total number of 800 seats in the private medical institutes.

As per the latest media report by Hindustan Times, during his budget speech on Monday, Finance Minister Cheema announced an increase in the budget for medical education for the academic year 2022-2023 by 56.6%.

The AAP Government also announced about its plans of setting up 16 new medical colleges in the State in the next five years and allocating a total of Rs 1,033 crore for medical education.

Apart from this, the Government will also focus on upgrading the existing government medical colleges in the State and work on increasing the MBBS seats in the existing colleges.

Free Press Journal adds that referring to the protest by Ukraine-returned medical students demanding admission in India, the Finance Minister said that "the state doesn't want medical students to go to countries like Ukraine to study medicine" and that they "commit to give the greatest medical education eco-system in the state."

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported about Punjab's decision of constituting a new medical colleges in Sangrur with 100% State funding. However, in the recent budget, Finance Minister Cheema allocated only Rs 50 crore for the Sant Baba Attar Singh State Institute of Medical Sciences in Sangrur. 

Besides, he also announced about the State's plans for constituting a state-of-the-art Punjab Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences in Mohali.

Also Read:New Medical College to come up in Punjab with 100 percent State Funding