NEW DELHI: New medical colleges will be set up in 58 districts, resulting in an increase of 5,800 MBBS seats in the country, the Parliament was informed today.

These medical colleges are being established under a centrally sponsored scheme for 'Establishment of Medical Colleges attached with existing District/Referral hospitals', Health and Family Welfare Minister J P Nadda said in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.

"In the first phase, total 58 districts have been identified. This initiative would result in increase of 5,800 MBBS seats in the country," he added.

Criteria for identification of districts under the scheme, he said, are district hospitals/referral hospital with bed strength of 200 or more, districts where there is no medical college and preference to under-served areas.

In reply to a separate question in Rajya Sabha, Nadda said the Government Medical College at Jaipur will be upgraded.

"Government Medical College, Jaipur has been identified for upgradation under phase-IV of Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana," he said.

He also said that the timeline for establishing super speciality blocks depends upon the receipt of various due approvals of EFC and CCEA.