Azad also announced some changes in rules that will make it easy for the private sector to invest in medical colleges.

'Private healthcare providers from now on can go vertical instead of horizontal in starting medical colleges in big cities,' Azad said.

'Earlier there was a requirement of 24 acres of land to set up a medical colleges in big cities like Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. Very soon, we are allowing them to start medical colleges on just 10 acres of land,' the minister said, noting this decision will solve the land problems which are 'huge issues' in big cities.

Welcoming the announcement to involve the private sector, which is part of the health minister's programme for 100 days in office, Fortis Healthcare Managing Director Shivinder Mohan Singh said: 'It is like music to the ears of private sector.'