The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the continuation of the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana beyond the 12th Five Year Plan to 2019-’20. The scheme, announced in 2003, covers the setting up of institutions like All India Institutes of Medical Sciences across the country, and the upgradation of state government medical colleges.

The financial outlay for the scheme is Rs 14,832 crore, the government said.

Twenty AIIMS-like institutions have so far been announced under the scheme since 2006, out of which six have been set up. The central funds will be used to set up the remaining ones. “This will improve the availability of affordable & reliable tertiary healthcare services and augment facilities for medical education,” Union Health Minister JP Nadda said on Twitter.

Setting up new AIIMS will also help generate employment for nearly 3,000 people, a government release said. Each new AIIMS will add 100 undergraduate seats and 60 BSc (Nursing) seats, 15-20 super specialty departments and around 750 hospital beds, Nadda said.