Process to set up six new medical colleges in state on PPP model begins
LUCKNOW : The process for setting up six more medical colleges in the state on a publicprivatepartnership ( PPP) model has started. The Uttar Pradesh medical education department has initiated the step as part of the “one district one medical college” programme.
With this, the strength of such medical colleges in U.P. will be 10 against the target of 16 under the PPP model. Confirming it, principal secretary, medical education department, Uttar Pradesh, Alok Kumar said, “New medical colleges will give a boost to medical education and patient care as more doctors will pass out from these colleges.”The new medical colleges will come up are Mahoba, Mainpuri, Baghpat, Hamirpur, Hathras, and Kasganj districts. While the Centre is providing subsidy for the colleges under the viability gap funding, the state government will provide the land for 33 years on lease.
The state has already finalised medical colleges in Maharajganj and Sambhal and process is in final stage for medical colleges in Shamli and Mau districts. The total expenditure on these new colleges will be ₹1,525 crore and the Centre will give ₹1,012 crore as financial support. “The subsidy from the central government will support the initiative in the state,” said Kumar.
“Colleges under PPP mode will also have a corporate touch which will give a competitive edge to students, particularly at colleges in districts where there are no medical institute,” said Dr Abhishek Shukla, secretary general association of international doctors.
The state at present has a total 65 medical colleges, including government and private ones. Over a dozen new colleges will start functioning next year.“We have been able to increase not just undergraduate medical seats but also postgraduate seats in Uttar Pradesh. This will pave way for more specialist doctors to pass out from state medical institute and also increase number of faculty for new colleges. The impact will be seen in a few years from now as it takes time to obtain a specialist degree,” said Kumar.