To increase the government's share of seats in medical education, a state government-appointed committee has suggested it convert its district hospitals into medical colleges through public private partnership (PPP) with parties like societies, trusts or not-for-profit companies. To cross-subsidise these government medical college seats, the private party will be earmarked 15% of the annual intake of students as an NRI quota for which higher fees will be charged as compensation. The committee was to examine how government medical colleges could be established through the PPP model in districts sans these institutions by upgrading district hospitals to teaching colleges without making the state incur a heavy financial burden. It has estimated that the government will stand to gain Rs256 crore in 10 years through medical admission quotas and free medical facilities for various schemes. At present, Maharashtra has a total of 16 government medical colleges.

Source: dna August 23, 2016 02:37 UTC