Scholarships announced for needy MBBS students in AP

Vijayawada: In a bid to provide financial support to the students from underprivileged backgrounds pursuing medical education, the Phoenix Foundation and Dr NTR University of Health Sciences (NTRUHS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Thursday to provide scholarships to economically disadvantaged MBBS students studying in government medical colleges.The MoU was signed in the presence of health minister Y Satya Kumar Yadav, who said that poverty should never become a barrier for talented students aspiring to become doctors. He said the partnership would complement the government’s efforts to support meritorious students from poor families and help them complete their medical education.Under the programme, 10 students will be selected in the 2026-27 academic year, with the number of new beneficiaries increasing to 20 in 2027-28, 30 in 2028-29, 40 in 2029-30 and 50 annually from 2030-31 onwards. Each selected student will receive financial assistance of at least Rs 1.5 lakh per year, covering up to 100% of tuition fees and, where required, hostel expenses until completion of the MBBS course. The scholarship amount will be transferred directly to the educational institution.Apart from financial support, the programme will also provide mentorship, personality development and professional guidance to help students excel in their careers. The Minister expressed confidence that the beneficiaries would emerge as skilled doctors committed to serving the underprivileged.The scholarship programme, launched by the Phoenix Foundation in 2025 in memory of late Chukkapalli Shankara Rao during his birth centenary year, aims to provide opportunities to meritorious students irrespective of their economic background.Students admitted to MBBS in selected government medical colleges from the 2026-27 academic year, whose parents’ annual income is below Rs 5 lakh, will be eligible to apply.