Missing colleges

Source-This post on Missing colleges has been created based on the article “Poor doctor-population ratio cannot be set right without better Centre-State ties’’ published in “The Hindu” on 18 April 2024.

UPSC Syllabus-GS Paper-2- Issues Relating to Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

Context- The students have recently staged a protest citing inordinate delays in construction of basic infrastructure at AIIMS Madurai. This project has also strained relations between the central and State governments.

What is Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana?

1) Launch-It was launched in 2003.

2) Objective-To correct regional imbalances in the availability of affordable/reliable tertiary healthcare services and to augment facilities for quality medical education in the country.

3) Components–
A) Setting up of AIIMS-like institutions. Currently, there are 20 AIIMS institutions with functional medical colleges and 3 are under development.

B) Upgradation of government medical colleges in various states.

5) Funding-The project cost for upgrading each medical college institution is shared by the Centre and the state.

Read more- Steps taken by the Indian government to meet the challenges of Healthcare

What is the significance of newly built AIIMS institutions?

1)These institutions have created a lot of opportunities for students.

2) They have enhanced the accessibility of quality healthcare beyond the metro.

Why are students protesting at AIIMS Madurai?

1) There is a lack of adequate infrastructure, facilities, and manpower constraints

2) 3 batches of undergraduate students have been accommodated at the Government Medical College and Hospital, in nearby Ramanathapuram district, without completing the construction work at the main campus.

What are the reasons behind this inordinate delay?

1) Strained federal relations-Due to political differences, there is a lack of synergy between centre and state government. This is causing a delay in the project’s completion.

In the backdrop of inefficient doctor-population ratio at 1:834, the Centre and the State should work together to ensure that these medical institutions can provide high quality education.

Question for practice

Highlight the importance of AIIMS institution in democratizing the access to quality healthcare beyond metro cities?