In a significant address at Stanley Medical College in Chennai, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Science & Technology, along with several other key responsibilities, emphasized the government’s unwavering commitment to ensuring affordable and accessible medical education. He highlighted the government’s dedication to bridging the gap caused by socio-economic disparities, ensuring that deserving candidates have equal opportunities.
Dr. Jitendra Singh noted that medical education has been a top priority for the government, evident from the significant increase in the number of government medical colleges, which has risen from 145 to 260. He highlighted that 22 All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) have been approved under the Central Sector Scheme, with undergraduate courses now being offered in 19 AIIMS institutions.
The Minister shared impressive statistics, revealing that the number of MBBS undergraduate seats has surged from 51,348 in 2014 to 91,927 seats, marking a remarkable 79% increase. Similarly, postgraduate (PG) seats have seen a remarkable rise of 93%, from 31,185 seats in 2014 to 60,202 seats.
“Addressing concerns related to the medical admission process, Dr. Jitendra Singh mentioned that the National Medical Commission is actively working on revising the criteria for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Undergraduates (NEET-UG), with the goal of increasing transparency and preventing backdoor admissions under the NRI quota”.
Dr. Jitendra Singh also recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of providing medical and engineering education in regional Indian languages such as Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Gujarati, and Bengali. He noted that medical education in Hindi has already commenced, and plans are underway to introduce engineering studies in Hindi as well.
“Highlighting India’s remarkable strides in healthcare, Dr. Jitendra Singh stated that India is viewed as a global leader in the field, particularly following its successful management of the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted that India boasts advanced technology and a robust healthcare workforce”.
The Minister expressed gratitude to PM Modi for focusing on preventive healthcare in the country. Under the Prime Minister’s leadership, India has developed two DNA vaccines and one nasal vaccine within just two years. India’s vaccination drive, administered through the digital platform CoWIN, has garnered global recognition, delivering over 220 crore vaccinations.
“Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized that India’s healthcare sector is poised for significant growth, with expectations of reaching a size of $50 billion by 2025. The country is also making strides in medical tourism, projected to be worth around $10 billion by the end of this year. India is renowned as the world’s largest supplier of generic drugs”.
