NEW DELHI: In a move to ramp of medical infrastructure and resources in the country, the Cabinet committee on economic affairs on Wednesday approved setting up of 75 government medical colleges attached with existing district or referral hospitals by 2021-22.

The establishment of new medical colleges, under the third phase of an ongoing centrally sponsored scheme, is expected to add at least 15,700 MBBS seats in the country leading to an increase in the availability of doctors , improved tertiary care in government hospitals, and better utilisation of existing health infrastructure of district hospitals.

The new medical colleges would be set up in under-served areas having no medical colleges, with district hospitals having at least 200 beds, a government statement said.

“The Cabinet also sanctioned an expenditure of Rs 24,375 crore during the 15lh Finance Commission period, i.e. up to 2021-22,” it added.

Earlier, the government had approved the establishment of 58 new medical colleges attached with existing district or referral hospitals under Phase-I, and 24 under Phase-II. Of this, 39 medical colleges under Phase-I have already started functioning, while the remaining 19 would be made functional by 2020-21. Under Phase-II, 18 new medical colleges have been approved.

