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

This clarification follows requests from some states and UTs for additional construction of district or referral hospitals (DH/RH), concerned that existing DH/RH transitioning to medical colleges might lose NHM funding.

Over the past nine years, significant efforts have been made to increase the number of medical colleges in India. Currently, there are 706 medical colleges nationwide, with 319 added since 2014, marking an 82 percent increase in institutions, including private ones, according to the ministry.

India’s medical education network has expanded substantially, emphasizing professional education quality and accessibility to underserved areas. Globally, efforts continue to improve the doctor-population ratio for enhanced healthcare access.

Since 2014, a centrally sponsored scheme has supported new medical colleges by enhancing district hospitals through three phases. Of the 157 sanctioned colleges, 108 are operational, with 40 located in aspirational districts to bolster local investment, the ministry noted.

Source: PTI

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