Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh today highlighted the rapidly changing paradigms of medical education in India as also those of health care, pointing to a transformative decade that has made healthcare in India more accessible, affordable, and inclusive.

Addressing the 54th Foundation Day and College Convocation of the University College of Medical Sciences (UCMS), University of Delhi, Dr. Jitendra Singh conferred degrees upon undergraduate and postgraduate students and urged the new generation of doctors to embrace innovation while staying rooted in compassion.

The Minister observed that medical education in India has witnessed a paradigm shift in the past decade with a steep rise in the number of medical colleges and training opportunities.

“Ten years ago, there were only about 45,000 undergraduate medical seats; today, the number is close to 1.5 lakh,” he said, noting that the expansion of institutions like AIIMS has democratised access to medical education across regions and enabled more women to pursue medical careers.

He described the transformation of healthcare delivery as “three-fold — accessible, affordable, and available,” crediting initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat and Jan AushadhiKendras for redefining the relationship between the state and the citizen in health matters.