96,077 MBBS, 49,790 PG seats Available in India: MoS Health informs Parliament

New Delhi: There are a total number of 96,077 MBBS seats and 49,790 Postgraduate medical seats in India, the Minister of State in the Union Health Ministry Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar has informed the Rajya Sabha today.

Among the MBBS seats, altogether 51,712 MBBS seats are in the Government Medical Colleges and 44,365 MBBS seats are in the Private Medical Colleges. In case of PG medical seats, overall 30,384 PG medical seats are available in the Government institutes while 19,406 PG medical seats are run by the private management.

The MoS Health has further informed that since 2014, the total number of medical colleges in the country has increased by 67%. While the MBBS seats have increased by 87%, in case of the PG medical seats, the numbers have been increased by a huge 105%.

She has further informed that there are 12,648 Diplomate of National Board (DNB) / Fellowship of National Board (FNB) PG seats available in the country along with 1621 PG medical seats belonging to the College of Physicians and Surgeons (CPS).

The Health Ministry data has come in respect to the questions raised in the Parliament regarding the number of medical seats in India. Dr. Pawar had been asked about the total number of MBBS and PG seats in India. Further, other questions included if the lower number of medical seats was driving students abroad to pursue medical education, the steps taken by the Government to increase the medical seats etc.

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Responding to this, the Minister informed, "A total of 96,077 MBBS seats are available in the country out of which 51,712 in Government Medical Colleges and 44365 in Private Medical Colleges. There are 49,790 PG seats of National Medical Commission (NMC) available in the country, out of which 30,384 in Government Medical Colleges and 19,406 in Private Medical Colleges. There are also 12,648 Diplomate of National Board (DNB) / Fellowship of National Board (FNB) PG seats out of which 4185 in Government institutions and 8463 in Private institutions. In addition, 1621 PG seats are in College of Physicians and Surgeons (CPS)."

"There is an increase of 67% in Medical Colleges from 387 before 2014 to 648 as of now. Further, there is an increase of 87% in MBBS seats from 51348 before 2014 to 96077 as of now and increase of 105% in PG seats from 31185 before 2014 to 64059 as of now," she further added.

Apart from this, Dr. Pawar also informed about the measures and steps taken by the Government to increase the opportunities for medical studies and expand medical education in country. These measures are as follows:

i. Central Sector Scheme for establishment of new medical college by upgrading district/ referral hospital under which 94 new medical colleges are already functional out of 157 approved.

ii. Central Sector Scheme for strengthening/ upgradation of existing State Government/Central Government Medical Colleges to increase MBBS and PG seats.

iii. Central Sector Scheme for "Upgradation of Government Medical Colleges by construction of Super Specialty Blocks". A total of 60 projects are complete out of 75 approved.

iv. Under the Central Sector Scheme for setting up of new AIIMS, 22 AIIMS have been approved. Undergraduate courses have started in 19 of these.

v. Relaxation in the norms for setting up of Medical College in terms of requirement for faculty, staff, bed strength and other infrastructure.

vi. DNB qualification has been recognized for appointment as faculty to take care of shortage of faculty.

vii. Enhancement of age limit for appointment/ extension/ re-employment against posts of teachers/Dean/Principal/ Director in medical colleges upto 70 years.

The MoS Health was also asked about the plan of the Government to introduce medical education in Hindi or any other Indian languages. Responding to this, Dr. Pawar informed, "As per information received from the State Government of Madhya Pradesh, the State in order to promote education in Regional languages has taken a decision to impart medical education in Hindi as a pilot project."

To view the details, click on the link below:

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/rajya-sabha-193681.pdf

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