The Central Government has approved establishment of 157 new medical colleges in three phases. Out of these, 70 medical colleges have become functional till date. In a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Friday, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Dr Bharati Pawar said, the ministry administers a Central Sponsored Scheme for establishment of new Medical Colleges attached with existing district and referral hospitals with preference to under served areas and aspirational districts, where there is no existing Government or private medical college. He said, this step will help to improve the health care delivery system in these areas.<br />''