For-profit companies allowed to set up medical colleges under PPP mode, says NMC chief

National Medical Commision (NMC) Chairman Abhijat Chandrakant Sheth on Wednesday said that the regulation of allowing only non-profit companies to set up medical colleges has been shelved to enable both non-profit as well as for profit companies to run them.

Addressing the media at Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences in Vijayawada, Mr. Sheth said, “Earlier, only non-profit Section 8 companies were allowed to set up medical colleges but a recent board meeting has removed this regulation, paving the way for both non-profit, and for-profit companies to set up medical colleges under Public Private Partnership,” said Sheth, who met Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu today, in an official release.

The NMC is of the belief that public and private entities teaming up together will enable the efficient utilisation of available resources for medical education, he said.

Observing that PPP model implementation is currently the prerogative of state governments, Sheth asserted that such an arrangement is running successfully in Gujarat.

As hospitals run under PPP mechanism will be under State governments’ purview, he said patients will receive treatment on either free or subsidised basis, he said.

As part of enhancing medical education quality, Sheth said clinical research has been made compulsory, including embracing AI, futuristic technologies and digital healthcare, among others.

He said that NMC is raising awareness among the public about preventive measures to check diseases and the mental well-being of students.

New PhD specialty and sub-specialty courses would be introduced and clinical research will be made mandatory to enhance the quality of medical education, he said, adding that the accreditation process for medical colleges would be simplified, and steps would be taken to prevent delays in counselling.

Earlier in the day, he held a discussion with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu about issues related to medical education.

Later, Dr. NTRUHS Vice-Chancellor P. Chandrasekhar said steps are being taken to increase PG seats to match the MBBS seat numbers.

To address the shortage of doctors in taluk-level hospitals and hospitals with 50–100 beds, a new ‘Family Medicine’ initiative is being introduced, which will make approximately 500 seats available.

He announced that ‘University Research Day’ will be organised on January 12 to mark the birth centenary of Indian biochemist Yellapragada Subbarao.

Each government medical college will be allotted ₹50 lakh per year for research activities, and ₹25 lakh per year will be allocated for sports development, Dr. Chandrasekhar announced.

(With inpuits from PTI)