Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today said that the government has made several steps to strengthen Medical Education scenario in the country. Addressing the Parliamentary Consultative Committee meeting of his ministry in New Delhi, Mr Azad said last three years alone the number of PG seats has increased by more than nine thousand. He said 46 new medical colleges have also been set up during the year 2009-12.

He informed that to give a boost to nursing education in the country, the ministry has sanctioned 132 Auxiliary Nurse and Midwife (ANM) and 137 General Nursing and Midwifery(GNM) schools during the last two years. He said it will produce an additional twenty thousand nurses every year in the country.

The minister also urged the members to create awareness among the people about various schemes and measures being undertaken by the government to facilitate services. Cutting across party lines, members of the consultative committee appreciated the government initiatives and progress made in addressing the need for more doctors especially in rural areas.