Parliament Question: Public Private Partnerships for Upgradation of Medical Colleges

GOVERNMENT OFINDIA MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 411* TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 20THMARCH, 2026 PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS FOR UPGRADATION OF MEDICALCOLLEGES *411. SHRI PV MIDHUN REDDY: SHRI G KUMAR NAIK: Will the MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has proposed attaching medical colleges to district hospitals, including through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model and if so, the details thereof along with the objectives and timeline of the proposal; (b) the policy framework and financial support including viability gap funding prescribed by the Government for Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model in medical colleges infrastructure along with quality and affordability criteria in this regard; (c) the details of the implementation and non-implementation of the PPP model for establishing medical colleges attached to district hospitals in the country, State/UT-wise along with the reasons therefor; (d) the total funds allocated, released and utilised for the establishment or upgradation of medical colleges attached to district hospitals since inception, year-wise and State/UT-wise along with the current status of these colleges including the number of students enrolled, completed works and works in progress, construction etc.; (e) the details of medical colleges in Andhra Pradesh where PPPproposals have been tendered approved or rejected; (f) the steps taken by the Government to ensure that PPP led expansion of medical education does not adversely affect access or impose high fees on students; and (g) the monitoring mechanisms in place to assess infrastructure delivery and educational outcomes under PPParrangements in the country? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA) (a) to (g) AStatement is laid on the Table of the House.STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 411* FOR 20TH MARCH, 2026 (a) to (e): The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare administers a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for ‘Establishment of new medical colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals’ with preference to underserved areas and aspirational districts, where there is no existing Government or private medical college. The fund sharing mechanism between the Centre and State Governments is in the ratio of 90:10 for North Eastern and Special Category States, and 60:40 for others. Under the scheme, all the envisaged 157 Government medical colleges have already been approved, of which 137 are functional. Also, as informed by Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), under the Scheme for Financial Support to Public Private Partnerships in Infrastructure (Viability Gap Funding – VGF) administered by the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), projects in the Health sector, including medical colleges attached to existing district hospitals under PPP mode, are eligible for financial support under Sub-Scheme-1 and Sub-scheme II (Pilot/Demonstration projects) of the VGF Scheme. Under this framework, proposals received from the concerned State Governments/Project Authorities are duly examined and placed before the Empowered Committee (EC) for consideration and approval in accordance with the provisions of the Scheme. Based on the records available, projects relating to the development/upgradation of medical colleges attached to district hospitals under the PPP mode have been accorded in-principle/final approval for Viability Gap Funding (VGF) support, the details of which, including the associated funding, are provided in the Annexure. (f) & (g) The fee structure for MBBS course differs from State to State in Government / Private Medical Colleges as per the guidelines issued by concerned State Fee Regulatory Authorities. The Minimum Standard Requirements (MSR) Regulations framed by the National Medical Commission (NMC) prescribe comprehensive norms and criteria for assessing the adequacy of infrastructure, faculty, equipment and overall institutional capacity to ensure the delivery of quality medical education and training. All medical institutions across the counrty, including those under PPP mode, are required to strictly comply with these prescribed norms and standards.Annexure Details of projects approved under Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Scheme across the country (In-principleApprovedAmountinRs.Cr) State Location/District Total Project GoI GoI Opex Cost (Rs.Cr) Capex (Rs.Cr) (Rs.Cr) Arunachal Namsai 356.6 142.6 65.6 Pradesh Mahoba 249.9 100.0 66.7 Mainpuri 230.8 92.3 67.1 Bagpat 215.0 86.0 66.6 Uttar Pradesh Hamirpur 274.5 109.8 67.2 Hathras 270.7 108.3 67.0 Kasganj 284.9 114.0 67.5 Giridih 428 171.03 62.46 Jamtara 352 140.7 60.98 Jharkhand Khunti 117 46.9 41.6 Dhanbad 352 105.6 - *****