New Delhi, Sep 24 (NationPress) In an effort to enhance the availability of medical professionals in India, the Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has endorsed a significant initiative to expand 5,000 PG seats and 5,023 MBBS seats with a total budget of Rs 15,034.50 crore.

This approval marks Phase III of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS), which aims to bolster and modernize existing state and central government medical colleges, independent PG institutions, and public hospitals.

The increase in seats will be made “with an enhanced cost ceiling of Rs. 1.50 crore per seat,” according to a Cabinet Communique.

“The total financial implications of these initiatives stand at Rs 15,034.50 crore for a duration from 2025-26 to 2028-29. Of this amount, the central government will contribute Rs 10,303.20 crore, while the states will provide Rs 4731.30 crore,” the statement added.

This new scheme follows PM Modi's announcement during his Independence Day address in 2024, where he indicated that the Central government would generate 75,000 new medical seats over the next five years to enhance the country’s healthcare framework.

Currently, India boasts 808 medical colleges—the largest number globally—with a total capacity of 1,23,700 MBBS seats.

In the past decade, India has successfully added over 69,352 new MBBS seats, reflecting a remarkable growth rate of 127 percent.

Similarly, 43,041 PG seats have been introduced during this period, showcasing a significant growth of 143 percent.

However, certain regions still require capacity enhancements to meet the increasing demand for accessible and affordable healthcare.

The new initiative is expected to “greatly enhance undergraduate medical capacity, the availability of specialist doctors, and introduce new specialties within government medical institutions, thus improving access to quality healthcare, especially in underserved areas,” as stated by the Cabinet.

This initiative aims to facilitate a balanced regional distribution of healthcare resources while being cost-efficient by utilizing existing infrastructure.

Additionally, it seeks to provide more avenues for students to pursue medical education in India, improve the quality of medical training to meet global standards, and increase the availability of doctors and specialists, ultimately positioning India as a leading destination for affordable healthcare and boosting foreign exchange.

Significantly, the initiative is also expected to create direct and indirect job opportunities for doctors, faculty, paramedical staff, researchers, administrators, and support personnel; fortify the resilience of the health system; and contribute to overall socio-economic development while promoting equitable distribution of healthcare infrastructure across States/UTs.