Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) is a flagship healthcare initiative of the Government of India. The scheme was launched under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 2003 and operationalized in 2006. The scheme was conceptualized to address regional disparities in the availability of high-quality tertiary healthcare services across India and enhance medical education facilities in underserved regions.
The initiative focuses on two main objectives:
- Correcting Regional Imbalances: Ensuring equitable access to affordable and reliable tertiary healthcare, particularly in regions with limited medical infrastructure.
- Enhancing Medical Education: Establishing new institutes and upgrading existing medical colleges to improve the quality of medical training and expand postgraduate opportunities.
The scheme has become a cornerstone in India’s healthcare policy, particularly for enhancing the infrastructure and capabilities of tertiary healthcare institutions.
Why was PMSSY Introduced?
India has long struggled with the uneven distribution of medical facilities. While urban centers boast state-of-the-art hospitals and specialized healthcare services, rural and underserved regions often lack essential tertiary healthcare facilities. PMSSY was introduced to bridge this gap by:
- Establishing AIIMS-like institutions in underserved states.
- Upgrading government medical colleges to national standards.
- Expanding opportunities for undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) medical education.
The initiative also aims to develop high-quality tertiary healthcare and research facilities to improve the overall health ecosystem in India.
What are the Key Components of PMSSY?
The PMSSY scheme operates through two primary components:
1. Setting Up New AIIMS Institutions
Under this component, India is witnessing the establishment of 22 new AIIMS across different states. These institutes are designed as autonomous institutions under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and are designated as Institutes of National Importance through the AIIMS Act.
Key features of these new AIIMS include:
- Large Hospital Capacity: Each AIIMS has a minimum of 750 beds.
- Specialty Departments: 15 to 20 specialized and super-specialized departments.
- Medical Education: 100 MBBS seats and 60 B.Sc. Nursing seats per institute.
- Postgraduate Focus: Strong emphasis on PG courses and research.
- Advanced Facilities: State-of-the-art modular operation theatres, diagnostic facilities, and modern healthcare infrastructure.
These institutions serve as model centers for tertiary care and medical education and are designed to set benchmarks for medical institutions across the country.
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2. Upgrading Existing Government Medical Colleges
The second component of PMSSY focuses on strengthening existing government medical colleges to meet national standards. This includes:
- Addition of 8 to 10 new specialty departments.
- Expansion of hospital beds, typically 150–250 beds per college.
- Increase in PG seats by around 15 per institution to meet the demand for specialized healthcare professionals.
How has PMSSY Progressed Over the Years?
Since its inception, PMSSY has made substantial progress in expanding India’s medical infrastructure:
| Aspect | Details |
| New AIIMS | 22 AIIMS have been announced, with 6 already functional. |
| Medical College Upgradation | 75 upgradation projects for government medical colleges approved. |
| Growth in Medical Seats | – Medical colleges increased from 387 to 780. – UG seats expanded from 51,348 to 1,15,900. – PG seats increased from 31,185 to 74,306. |
What are the Objectives of PMSSY?
The PMSSY initiative is guided by clear objectives:
- Correcting Regional Imbalances
- Augmenting Medical Education
- Developing Centers of Excellence
- Self-Sufficiency in Medical Education
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What Legal Framework Supports PMSSY?
The establishment of AIIMS institutions under PMSSY is backed by the AIIMS Act, which provides a legal and operational framework. The key provisions include:
- Designation of AIIMS as an Institute of National Importance.
- Autonomy in academic and administrative operations.
- Emphasis on teaching excellence, research, and patient care.
Challenges Faced by PMSSY
Despite its success, PMSSY has encountered several challenges:
- Implementation Delays: Some projects faced delays of up to five years due to poor contract management and slow procurement processes.
- Funding Utilization: A significant portion of allocated funds remained unutilized due to delays in approvals, pending utilization certificates, and other procedural bottlenecks.
- Shortage of Faculty: Many AIIMS experienced an acute shortage of faculty and non-faculty staff, leading to limited functionality in several departments.
- Monitoring Issues: Committees at national, state, and institute levels were often non-functional, affecting project oversight.
- Ad Hoc Decision-Making: Absence of operational guidelines in the early years led to ad hoc decision-making, causing cost escalations and inefficiencies.
How is PMSSY Funded and Implemented?
PMSSY is a Central Sector Scheme, with the following funding and implementation structure:
| Aspect | Details |
| Funding | – Upgradation projects are shared between the Central and State governments on a 60:40 basis. – State governments bear operational costs and provide human resources for upgraded institutions. |
| Implementation | – The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare oversees the execution of projects. – AIIMS institutions operate autonomously under the ministry, following the AIIMS Act. |
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Key Takeaways
| Aspect | Key Details |
| Full Form | Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana |
| Launch Year | 2003 (Operationalized in 2006) |
| Ministry | Ministry of Health and Family Welfare |
| Objectives | Correct regional imbalances in tertiary healthcare; improve medical education quality |
| Components | 1. Setting up new AIIMS 2. Upgrading government medical colleges |
| New AIIMS | 22 approved, 6 functional |
| Upgradation Projects | 75 projects approved |
| UG Seats Growth | 51,348 → 1,15,900 |
| PG Seats Growth | 31,185 → 74,306 |
| Funding Pattern | Central-State cost sharing 60:40 for upgrades |
| Challenges | Implementation delays, staff shortage, fund utilization issues, monitoring gaps |
Questions Based on PMSSY
- What is the primary objective of PMSSY?
a) Provide primary healthcare in urban areas
b) Correct regional imbalances in tertiary healthcare and improve medical education
c) Promote health insurance schemes
d) Establish private hospitals in rural areas
e) Fund pharmaceutical companies
Answer: b - Under PMSSY, how many new AIIMS have been approved?
a) 15
b) 22
c) 30
d) 18
e) 25
Answer: b - Which Act governs the establishment of AIIMS?
a) Medical Council of India Act
b) National Health Act
c) AIIMS Act
d) Indian Medical Institutes Act
e) Health Services Act
Answer: c - What is the minimum bed capacity of a new AIIMS under PMSSY?
a) 500
b) 750
c) 1000
d) 600
e) 850
Answer: b - What is the funding pattern for upgrading government medical colleges?
a) 50:50 between Central and State
b) 70:30 between Central and State
c) 60:40 between Central and State
d) Fully funded by Central government
e) Fully funded by State government
Answer: c
Also Read:
- Which ministry implements PMSSY?
a) Ministry of Education
b) Ministry of Finance
c) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
d) Ministry of Rural Development
e) Ministry of Social Justice
Answer: c - How many PG seats have been added under PMSSY as of August 2025?
a) 31,185
b) 50,000
c) 74,306
d) 60,000
e) 45,000
Answer: c - Which of the following is a key challenge faced by PMSSY?
a) Over-utilization of funds
b) Poor contract management and delay in execution
c) Excess staff recruitment
d) No legal framework
e) Lack of medical colleges
Answer: b - What is the focus of the AIIMS institutions under PMSSY?
a) Primary healthcare
b) Research and postgraduate medical education
c) Only undergraduate education
d) International collaborations
e) Health insurance promotion
Answer: b - Which of the following statements about PMSSY is true?
a) It is a State Sector Scheme
b) It only focuses on urban healthcare
c) It aims to provide tertiary healthcare and enhance medical education in underserved regions
d) It funds private hospitals in metro cities
e) It is unrelated to AIIMS
Answer: c
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