Andhra Pradesh-For faster implementation, higher quality standards and wider healthcare access in Andhra Pradesh, the state government has recently announced a public private partnership model for setting up 10 new medical colleges. The move is aimed at addressing long-standing gaps in medical education and public health infrastructure in Andhra Pradesh. As a part of this plan, 10 medical colleges will be developed and operated under PPP mode for speed, quality and state-wide reach, which will complement the ongoing government efforts to operate approved institutions. Under thePPPscheme, Andhra Pradesh will get 110 additional undergraduate seats per year for its students under a seat sharing pattern of 75 convener quota seats per 150-seat college, resulting in 11 additional state-quota seats per college compared to the earlier structure, reports PTI. According to the government, 17 new medical colleges were sanctioned earlier with an estimated investment of Rs 8,480 crore. However, only Rs 1,550 crore (18.2 percent) was spent over four years up to June 2024, leaving 11 colleges non-operational. With patient first commitment, these colleges will offer out-patient department services, free diagnostics and free in-patient services of 70 percent beds under PMJAY, NTR Vaidya Seva Trust and others, while paid service applies to 30 percent in-patient beds with market-rate diagnostics for paid patients. Likewise, PPP model will offer technological and quality upgrades to these medical colleges, offering Artificial Intelligence-driven diagnostics, telemedicine, and digital health records with collaboration opportunities for reputed medical institutions to elevate academic and clinical standards, among other benefits. Andhra Pradesh has expanded to 36 medical colleges with 4,046 under graduate seats by 2024-25, up from six colleges and 650 seats in 1995-96, driven by both government and private sector participation, said the press release, quotes PTI Meanwhile, according to the Andhra Pradesh government, adopting the PPP model of development has reduced the funding-performance gap, and administrative approvals have been obtained, despite historical low utilisation in many colleges. It also said that this model enables timely commissioning and reduces fiscal pressure on the treasury through shared risk and life-cycle efficiencies. The seat-sharing pattern under the PPP model enhances access for students from Andhra Pradesh through increased convener quota allocation, while partnerships with reputed institutions enable better teaching, research exposure and residency training in modern facilities with advanced technologies.