The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) in 2003. The scheme’s major goal is to solve regional imbalances in the provision of affordable and reliable tertiary healthcare services in the country. It also aims to improve the facilities for quality medical education in India.
Objectives of the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana:
- Developing teaching patterns in undergraduate and graduate medical education to demonstrate high standards of medical education in all Indian institutes.
- Bringing all necessary training facilities for personnel in all important branches of health activity together in one place.
- Achieving self-sufficiency in postgraduate medical education.
Components of the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana:
1. Formation of AIIMS-like institutions:
Each new AIIMS will include:
- State-of-the-art facilities for modular diagnostics and OT.
- 15-20 super-specialized departments
- 750 Beds.
- 100 undergraduate (MBBS) seats
- 60 seats for B.Sc. (Nursing).
- Concentrate on PG education and research.
This component has so far announced 22 new AIIMS:
- Six AIIMS are already functional.
- The Cabinet has approved 16 more AIIMS.
2. Government Medical College (GMC)/Institutions Upgrading
Each upgrade project would provide new features:
- 8-10 Super Specialty Departments
- There are around 15 new PG seats.
- 150-250 beds
Under this component, 75 projects have been considered at various phases:
- 19 GMCs in Phases I and II
- 39 GMCs in Phase ll
- 13 GMCs in Phase lV
- 2 GMCs in Phase V(A)
- 2 GMCs in Phase V(B)
Phases of the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana:
The PMSSY was implemented in multiple phases:
1. First Phase:
The government authorized the following in the first phase of the PMSSY:
- Setting six AIIMS-style institutions.
- Upgrading of 13 current Government Medical Colleges.
Six AIIMS-style institutions were proposed to be developed in the following states:
- Bihar (Patna)
- Chhattisgarh (Raipur)
- Madhya Pradesh (Bhopal)
- Orissa (Bhubaneshwar)
- Uttaranchal (Rishikesh)
- Rajasthan (Jodhpur)
The states listed above were chosen based on various socio-economic indicators such as the BPL population, human development index, infant mortality rate, literacy rate, and so on. In addition, 13 existing Government Medical Colleges/Institutions across ten states would be upgraded. The expected cost of upgrading 13 Government Medical Colleges/Institutions is 120 crore, which would be shared by the Central and State Governments, 20 crores by the State Government, and 100 crores by the Central Government.
2. Second Phase:
The government approved the setting up of two new AIIMS-like institutes, one in each of the states of Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, as well as the upgrading of six Government Medical Colleges. The AIIMS institution was expected to cost 823 crores. The Central Government contributed 125 crores to the improvement of existing Government Medical Institutes.
3. Third Phase:
The government upgraded 39 existing Government Medical Colleges/Institutions in the third phase of the PMSSY. The cost of upgrading each institute was expected to be Rs 150 crore, which would be shared by the state and central governments. The central government provided 120 crores, while the state government contributed 30 crores.
4. Fourth Phase:
The fourth phase of the PMSSY approved a fund of 200 crores for the upgrade of 13 additional Government Medical College Institutions. The central government provided 120 crores, while the state government contributed 80 crores.
5. Fifth Phase (A) & (B) :
The fifth phase approved the upgrading of four government medical colleges.
Concerns Regarding the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana:
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) submitted a report on the PMSSY’s performance in 2018. Some of the issues raised in the report are discussed below:
1. Even though the initiative was introduced in 2003, no operational guidelines have been developed since the beginning. As a result, several decisions were made on the spur of the moment. There was also an increase in costs and a delay in implementation.
- The report proposed that recommendations be developed for the same. Further, evaluation studies should be conducted to analyze progress and identify weaknesses in planning and execution.
2. According to the report, a large amount of the funds allotted to the initiative were not used because of:
- Unfilled positions
- The slow pace of equipment procurement
- Delays in receiving approvals
- Pending utilization certifications. The CAG observed that there was no mechanism in place to monitor actual expenditure, which resulted in an accumulation of unspent cash.
According to the report, the Ministry should guarantee that contracts adhere to the completion of works. Further, accountability should be set up in the case of additional expenditure without appropriate justification.
Related Frequently Asked Questions and Solutions:
1Q. When was Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana launched?
Ans: The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) in 2003. The scheme’s major goal is to solve regional imbalances in the provision of affordable and reliable tertiary healthcare services in the country. It also aims to improve the facilities for quality medical education in India.
2Q. What are the six states proposed in phase 1 of the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana?
Ans:
- Bihar (Patna)
- Chhattisgarh (Raipur)
- Madhya Pradesh(Bhopal)
- Orissa (Bhubaneshwar)
- Uttaranchal (Rishikesh)
- Rajasthan (Jodhpur
3Q. What are the objectives of the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana?
Ans:
- Developing teaching patterns in undergraduate and graduate medical education to demonstrate high standards of medical education in all Indian institutes.
- Bringing all necessary training facilities for personnel in all important branches of health activity together in one place.
- Achieving self-sufficiency in postgraduate medical education.
4Q. Give the concerns regarding the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana?
Ans: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) submitted a report on the PMSSY’s performance in 2018. Some of the issues raised in the report are discussed below.
1. Even though the initiative was introduced in 2003, no operational guidelines have been developed since its inception. As a result, several decisions were made on the spur of the moment. There was also an increase in costs and a delay in implementation.
- The report proposed that recommendations be developed for the same. Further, evaluation studies should be conducted to analyze progress and identify weaknesses in planning and execution.
2. According to the report, a large amount of the funds allotted to the initiative were not used because of:
- Unfilled positions
- The slow pace of equipment procurement
- Delays in receiving approvals
- Pending utilization certifications. The CAG observed that there was no mechanism in place to monitor actual expenditure, which resulted in an accumulation of unspent cash.
According to the report, the Ministry should guarantee that contracts adhere to the completion of works. Further, accountability should be set up in the case of additional expenditure without appropriate justification.
5Q. Give the classification of 75 projects under various phases of the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana?
Ans:
- 19 GMCs in Phases I and II
- 39 GMCs in Phase ll
- 13 GMCs in Phase lV
- 2 GMCs in Phase V(A)
- 2 GMCs in Phase V(B)