The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Thursday approved the proposal relating to the Centrally-sponsored scheme for up-gradation of existing State government/Central government medical colleges to increase the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) seats in the country.
This will result in an increase of about 10,000 seats at a total cost of Rs.10,000 crore, with a proposed Central assistance of Rs.7,500 crore and State/Union Territory share of Rs.2,500 crore.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will roll out the scheme over the next five years. Medical colleges attached to hospitals with a larger number of beds can straightaway apply for increasing the seats whereas colleges attached to small hospitals will have to enhance the number of beds before applying for the increase in seats. The funding pattern will be 90:10 by the Centre and State governments respectively for North Eastern States and special category States and in the ratio of 70:30 for other States.
