National Health Mission Ensures Continued Funding for Medical Colleges in India

Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra announced that district and referral hospitals transforming into medical colleges will keep receiving National Health Mission funds. This addresses states' concerns about losing support. In the past nine years, India has seen an 82% rise in medical colleges. The focus remains on underserved areas and improving the doctor-population ratio.

Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra has informed all states that district and referral hospitals transitioning into medical colleges will continue to receive funding support from the Centre under the National Health Mission (NHM), the Health Ministry announced on Wednesday.

This clarification comes in response to concerns raised by states and UTs, worried that existing district or referral hospitals converting into medical colleges would discontinue receiving NHM funds.

Over the past nine years, India has significantly expanded its medical education network. Currently, the country boasts 706 medical colleges, with 319 added in the last nine years, marking an 82 percent increase since 2014.

The emphasis has been on extending medical education to underserved areas, addressing accessibility issues, and improving the doctor-population ratio globally. A centrally sponsored scheme introduced in 2014 provides funding for new medical colleges by upgrading district hospitals. To date, 157 colleges have been sanctioned, with 108 already operating.