39 medical colleges to be upgraded by health ministry

Thirty-nine medical colleges in the country have been identified by the Union Health Ministry for an upgrade this year under Phase III of the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY).
The upgrade process would see super speciality blocks with state-of-the-art facilities and high-end equipment being set up at these colleges, a senior ministry official told PTI.
A budget of Rs 150 crore has been approved for each of these medical colleges to improve their infrastructure.
Out of this, the Centre will contribute Rs 120 crore towards each institution while the various state governments' share is to be Rs 30 crore.

The subsequent recurring, maintenance and manpower costs are to be borne by the state governments, the official added.
The plan is aimed at improving tertiary care services at these medical colleges which also cater to the common man.
The Health Ministry will support the specialists working at these medical colleges for the 12th Plan.
"The proposal (for the upgrades) has already been cleared by the Department of Expenditure and will soon be put before the Union Cabinet," the official said.