NEW DELHI, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Indian government approved to set up 75 new medical colleges in the next two to three years to have qualified health professionals and improve the overall health infrastructure, government sources said on Thursday.

A view outside the emergency ward of the hospital on August 22, 2019 in Ghaziabad, India (Photo: VCG)

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday.

The 75 new medical schools will be established by the year 2021-22 and would be attached with existing district hospitals under the ongoing Centrally Sponsored Schemes.

Establishing new medical colleges would increase the availability of qualified health professionals, improve the tertiary care in government sector, utilize the existing infrastructure of district hospitals and promote affordable medical education in the country, said a press release.

The scheme would lead to an addition of at least 15,700 Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) seats in the country.