Expand medical colleges, strengthen faculty, enhance infrastructure: Parliamentary committee recommends multi-pronged strategy
New Delhi: To ensure that quality training is being offered in the medical colleges across the country, a Parliamentary Committee on Health has recommended a multi-pronged strategy including further expansion of government medical colleges in underserved regions, strengthening the availability of faculty, and enhancing infrastructure for super-speciality training.
These recommendations were presented before the Parliament by the Department-related Parliamentary Committee on Health and Family Welfare in its 172nd report.
The panel noted that to address shortage of medical professionals in the country, the Government is implementing the following steps:
a) Centrally Sponsored Scheme for establishment of new medical college by upgrading district/ referral hospital under which 137 new medical colleges are functional out of 157 approved medical colleges.
b) Centrally Sponsored Scheme for strengthening/ upgradation of existing State Government/Central Government Medical Colleges to increase MBBS and PG seats.
c) Upgradation of Government Medical Colleges by construction of Super Specialty Blocks/Trauma care centres, etc.
Further, the panel observed that there are now 22 publicly funded and leading All India Institute of Medical Sciences Institutes. It noted that there are 2,086 medical colleges and medical education seats for the MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) increased by 151% (from 51,348 to 128976), and postgraduate seats grew by 173% (from 31,185 to 85020).
Further, the Parliamentary Committee noted that the Family Adoption Programme (FAP) has been incorporated into the MBBS curriculum to provide equitable healthcare access to rural population.
It also helps in educating families about ongoing government health programmes. The District Residency Programme (DRP) notified by the National Medical Commission (NMC) provides for a compulsory three months posting and training of PG medical students at District Hospitals as a part of the course curriculum. DRP benefits the public by strengthening healthcare delivery in rural and underserved areas, the panel noted in its report.
Taking these steps into account, the Parliamentary Health Committee recommended that the Department continue expanding medical education capacity while simultaneously addressing the demand-supply gap created by the large number of NEET aspirants each year.
"The Committee urges the Department to adopt a multi-pronged strategy. This should include further expansion of government medical colleges in underserved regions, including the North-East region like the States of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland, strengthening faculty availability, and enhancing infrastructure for super-specialty training. These measures will ensure that the adequate increase in medical seats translates into equitable access and quality training," recommended the panel.
