Health is a state subject and primary responsibility to ensure availability of publichealth facilities lies with the State Government. However, the Ministry of Health and FamilyWelfare administers a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for ‘Establishment of new MedicalColleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals’ with preference to underserved areas and aspirational districts, where there is no existing Government or private medicalcollege. This step will help to improve the healthcare delivery system in these areas. Under this scheme, Government of India has approved establishment of 157 new medical colleges in three phases. Out of these, 70 medical colleges have become functional till date.
The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar stated this in a written reply in the LokSabha today.
