Centre Clears Proposal For 75 New Medical Colleges; Odisha’s Aspirational Dists To Benefit

New Delhi: Aspirational districts in Odisha identified by Niti Aayog could have new medical colleges by 2021-22, with the Centre on Wednesday clearing a proposal in this regard.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved setting up of 75 government medical colleges attached to existing district or referral hospitals under phase III of a centrally-sponsored scheme.

According to a government statement, the new medical colleges would be set up in under-served areas having no medical colleges, and attached to district hospitals having at least 200 beds.

“Preference will be given to aspirational districts and district hospital having 300 beds,” the statement added.

The aspirational districts in Odisha identified by Niti Aayog are Nabarangpur, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Koraput, Kalahandi, Malkangiri and Gajapati.

The new medical colleges would lead to the addition of at least 15,700 MBBS seats in the country.

The Centre had earlier approved 58 new medical colleges attached to existing hospital infrastructure under phase-I and 24 under phase-II. Of these, 39 medical colleges have started functioning.