Union Minister Nitin Gadkari also lamented that doctors are not available in many tribal areas. (PTI file photo)
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has said that government should refrain from interfering too much in the working of medical colleges.
The senior leader expressed these views while addressing an award function of Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) at Vasantrao Deshpande hall in Nagpur last night.
"The deans do not even have the power to get medical equipments repaired. All decisions are taken at the Mantralaya. This needs to change immediately," Mr Gadkari said.
He even disapproved of the way Centre was handling health services.
"The health budget of the country is so low that the government can't provide good health services. Even medical colleges run by the government have failed to improve in the past seven decades because of lack of funds. Colleges should be run on public private partnership or by charitable organisations to serve as district hospitals. Private charitable hospitals should be promoted," he said.
Mr Gadkari also lamented that doctors are not available in many tribal areas.
"This has adversely affected health services in those areas. This problem will be solved only if doctors are available in large numbers."
If we want good doctors, then the entrance examination and the admission procedure for the medical courses should be flawless. In order to increase the number of doctors, the state government has started new medical colleges in Gondia and Chandrapur, he said.
About 12 prominent doctors from various fields were felicitated by Mr Gadkari on the occasion.