नवीनतम
Medical colleges, seats see sharp rise in last 11 years: Anupriya Patel
NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel on Monday said India has witnessed a significant expansion in medical education and healthcare infrastructure over the past 11 years, with the number of medical colleges rising from 387 to 819 across the country.
Addressing the 7th annual convocation of Vardhman Mahavir Medical College (VMMC) and Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi, the minister said undergraduate medical seats have increased from 51,000 to 1.28 lakh, while postgraduate seats have gone up from 31,000 to around 82,000. She also noted that the number of AIIMS institutions has grown from seven to 23 during this period.
Congratulating the graduating students, Patel stressed the crucial role of public medical institutions in strengthening India’s healthcare system. She said medical degrees are not just certificates of merit but also represent values such as compassion, dedication and perseverance that doctors must carry throughout their professional lives. She urged young doctors to uphold ethical medical practices and serve underserved and marginalised communities.
Highlighting reforms across the healthcare pyramid, the minister said the government has strengthened primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare simultaneously. She pointed out that more than 1.82 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs are currently operational, providing comprehensive primary care services, while efforts are underway to address gaps in community health centres, district hospitals and tertiary care facilities.
Patel said over 62 crore people—more than 40 per cent of India’s population—are now covered under the Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, which provides free health insurance cover of up to Rs 5 lakh per family. She also referred to initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana and Amrit Pharmacies, which supply medicines, medical devices and surgical implants at affordable prices.
Emphasising India’s leadership in digital health and innovation, the minister said technology is playing a key role in achieving the goal of universal healthcare. She encouraged graduating doctors to contribute actively to academics and research, reminding them of their social responsibility as medical professionals.
During the convocation, degrees were awarded to more than 217 postgraduate students, 136 undergraduate students and 40 super-specialty students. As many as 43 students received medals in recognition of their outstanding academic performance and dedication.
The event was attended by Vice Chancellor of GGSIPU Prof. Mahesh Verma, Director General of Health Services Dr Sunita Sharma, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital Director Prof. Sandeep Bansal, Principal Prof. Geetika Khanna, Medical Superintendent Prof. Charu Bamba, and senior officials of the Union Health Ministry.
