India to have more doctors in next 10-12 years than it has had in 70 years: PM Modi

PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission: With more and more medical colleges coming up, India will have more doctors in the next 10-12 years than it has had in the past over 70 years since Independence, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday.

Also read | Southwest monsoon withdraws from country, says IMD Narendra Modi, while addressing the launch function of PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission in his parliamentary constituency Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh on Monday said, "In the next 10-12 years, the nation is going to receive a number of doctors that will be more than the number of doctors that graduated out of medical colleges in the 70 years after independence." He said the quick pace with which new medical colleges were being started in UP would positively impact the number of medical seats available. "Due to more number of seats, now the children of poor parents too can dream of becoming a doctor and fulfil it," PM Modi said. He slammed the previous governments at the Centre and said the health infrastructure of the nation was not given attention for a long period of time after independence. Notably, according to the Prime Minister's Office, the PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission is one of the largest pan-India schemes for strengthening healthcare infrastructure across the country. It will be in addition to the National Health Mission. Also read | Man tests positive for Zika virus in UP's Kanpur; Central team rushed to state The objective of the scheme is to fill critical gaps in public health infrastructure, especially in critical care facilities and primary care in both urban and rural areas. It will provide support for 17,788 rural health and wellness centres in 10 high focus states. Further, 11,024 urban health and wellness centres will be established in all the states. -PTC News