Medical bonanza: More MBBS seats this year

Govt okays proposal; Azad meets representatives of govt, private colleges

For the first time in the history of medical education in the country, the government has approved a proposal to allow extra MBBS seats to all public and private medical colleges this year.

All medical colleges of 10-year standing will be allowed to apply for 50 additional seats for the current academic session as a one-time relaxation meant only for this year.

Medical colleges normally apply for increase in seats every year by July 15 following which MCI inspections are done to assess whether such colleges have the wherewithal to handle the increased load.

The government notification in this regard is expected any time now with the MCI holding a meeting today to discuss the same. Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad also met the representatives of government and private recognised medical colleges yesterday and today to apprise them of the government's one-time bonanza to tide over doctors' shortage.

The doctor-patient ratio in India is 1: 2000 and the government has repeatedly talked about bringing it down to half.

The proposal entails allowing medical colleges with 50 seats to apply for 100 and those with existing approvals for 100 seats to apply for 150.

Since the Indian medical Council Act 1956 specifically states that no increase in seats would happen without MCI inspections, the government has asked all the eligible colleges to apply for extra seats by July 15 following which the exercise would be finished by July 30 to enable more admissions to increased seats.

Asked whether the government was justified in increasing seats and rushing through inspections, ministry sources said, "The infrastructure required for 50 additional students would not be very much.

One-time offer

* All medical colleges, including government and private, of 10-year standing will be allowed to apply for 50 additional seats for the current academic session as a one-time relaxation meant only for this year

* Medical colleges normally apply for increase in seats every year by July 15 following which MCI inspections are done to assess whether such colleges have the funds to handle the increased load

* The government notification in this regard is expected any time now with the MCI holding a meeting on Wednesday to discuss the same