ENSURING AVAILABILITY OF DOCTORS AND SPECIALISTS: INCREASE IN NUMBER OF MEDICAL COLLEGES A critical reform in increasing the number of doctors has been the increase in the number of medical colleges. There has been concerted eorts over the last six years to increase the number of medical colleges. A Centrally Sponsored Scheme was introduced in 2014 to provide central funding support for opening new medical colleges. Three phases of the Scheme have been approved till date under which 157 colleges have been sanctioned. Of these, 47 colleges have already become functional and 110 are expected to be functional in the next few years. Among these, 39 medical colleges are in the Aspirational Districts, where there is acute need of doctors and specialists. Against 381 medical colleges in 2014, today ther 562 medical colleges today, i.e. an increase of 48%. The numbe UG seats have increased by 56% and number of PG seats have of increased by 80% as compared to 2014.Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY): The PMSSY is based on ensuring the three Es of Expand-Equity-Excellence. The scheme aims at correcting regional imbalances in the availability of aordable and reliable tertiary healthcare services and augmenting facilities for quality medical education in the under-served States. A total of 21 new AIMS have been started, out of which MBBS classes have been commenced in 18 AIIMS. The upward trajectory of growth in terms of OPD services, IPD services and teaching learning activities in these new AIMS has been moving at a commendable pace.
QUALITY: PROMOTING HIGH STANDARDS Skill Lab: The new standards for opening of medical colleges envisages a skill laboratory in every medical institution. Here students can practice and improve their skills in safe environment, mitigating the limitations of learning on live patients. These skill labs will recreate the clinical environment and provide a much greater opportunity for learning through mannequins and computerised simulation. New competency-based curriculum: ‘Competency-based Undergraduate Curriculum for the Indian Medical Graduate' has been introduced. The curriculum has been changed after 21 years, previous edition being that of 1997. This change will be a landmark reform for orienting medical education to competence based learning. For the first time, ‘Attitudinal and Communication' competencies have been added in the MBBS Curriculum. The importance of ethics, responsiveness to needs of patients and families has been acknowledged. Also a month-long foundation course for students from diverse backgrounds to help them cope with the stress, and to adapt to English language has been added. Another new element is the introduction of elective subjects. Now students can pick up subjects of their choice. Time has been allotted for self-directed learning and co-curricular activities. Emergency Medicine Department: All the medical colleges will have emergency medicine department by 2022. The department will have a casualty area, an intensive care unit, an operation theatre and trained sta. This step will bring transformation in the Emergency Medicine and in the availability of trained human resources for critical care.
AFFORDABILITY
Regulation of Fee: Before the NMC Act, there was no legal mechanism to regulate the fee charged by the private colleges. This led to instances of overcharging of fees by some private colleges, making them out of reach for poor meritorious students. Reforms have been taken to make the medical education aordable the students. The National Medical Commission (NMC) Act has the provision to regulate fee and all other charges in 50% of the seats in private medical colleges and deemed universities. NMC is framing guidelines in this regard.
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