NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet has approved schemes worth about Rs 14,930 crore to boost the availability of human resources for health and medical sector, including the establishment of 24 new medical colleges in underserved areas.
Other than the new colleges, 18,058 undergraduate and postgraduate seats will be increased in medical colleges by 2020-21, according to an official statement.
The government also plans to set up 248 nursing and midwifery schools.
The establishment of 24 new medical colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals will take place by 2021-22.
The establishment of the new colleges and increase of MBBS and PG seats would increase the availability of health professionals; check the existing geographical distribution of medical colleges in the country.
It will promote affordable medical education in the country, utilize the existing infrastructure of district hospitals and improve tertiary care in the government sector, the statement said.
It has been planned to ensure at least one medical college for every 3-5 parliamentary constituencies and at least one government medical college in the state.
The location of new medical colleges will be selected by the state government within the identified blocks in a “challenge mode”, it said.
The scheme will serve to create additional 10,000 MBBS and 8,000 PG seats in the country, bridge the gap in number of seats available in government and private sector, mitigate the shortage of doctors and medical faculty in India by increasing the number of seats and to achieve the desired doctor-population ratio and upgrade PG teaching facilities in government medical colleges.
Two autonomous bodies closed
The Cabinet has approved rationalization of autonomous bodies under Department of Health that will involve inter-ministerial consultations and review of existing bye laws of these bodies.
The time frame for implementation is one year.
The cabinet also approved the proposal for closure of two autonomous bodies – Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) and Jansankhya Sthirata Kosh (JSK).
RAN was set up as a registered society to provide financial medical assistance to poor patients receiving treatment in designated central government hospitals. An advance is placed with the medical superintendents of such hospitals who then provide assistance on a case-to-case basis.
“Since the department of health provides funds to the hospitals, the grants can be given from the department to the hospital directly. RAN functions can, therefore, be vested in DoHFW,” an official statement stated.
“Managing Committee of RAN Society will meet to dissolve the Autonomous Body (AB) as per provisions of Societies Registration Act, 1860 (SRA). In addition to this, Health Minister’s cancer patient fund (HMCPF) shall also be transferred to the Department. The timeline required for this is one year,” the statement stated.
JSK was set up with a corpus grant of Rs 100 crores in 2003 to raise awareness for population stabilization strategies. JSK organizes various activities with target populations as a part of its mandate. There has been no continuous funding to JSK from the Ministry. Population stabilization strategies require private and corporate funding, which can be accessed through JSK.
“Although, JSK will continue to play a significant role in population stabilization strategies, its existence as an autonomous body is not necessary. Hence, JSK as an autonomous body can be closed as it can be administered by the department as a fund,” the statement said.-PTI
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