Medical seats: government hopeful of convincing MCI; compliance report sent

Seats in the State’s medical colleges likely to reduce by 1,650

The number of seats in the State’s medical colleges is likely to reduce by 1,650 as the Medical Council of India (MCI) has turned down the request of several colleges to enhance the intake apart from reducing the admission strength of some of them.

Minister of State for Medical Education Sharanprakash Patil told presspersons here on Wednesday that the government was trying its best to impress on the MCI to maintain status quo . The MCI has refused permission on the grounds of “minor deficiencies” in the colleges in terms of infrastructure, staff strength and clinical facilities. Of the 1,650 seats, 380 are in government colleges, including those run by the ESIC, and the rest in private institutions.

He said a compliance report had been sent to the MCI. “We are doing our best to convince the MCI Compliance Committee, which is scheduled to meet on Thursday, to refrain from reducing the intake in government institutions since meritorious students will be affected. I will also speak to Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan in this regard,” Dr. Patil said.

The MCI had refused permission for increasing intake by 100 seats each the Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI) and the Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, and by 50 seats each in the government colleges in Hubli and Bellary.

The ESIC medical colleges in Bangalore (Rajajinagar) and Gulbarga, which are scheduled to admit the second batch of students, have also been denied permission. “We are set to lose a total of 80 seats here,” the Minister said.

He said a similar problem that cropped up last year was resolved after the compliance report was sent to the MCI. The government had initiated measures to comply with the MCI guidelines and Rs. 117 crore had been released to the BMCRI to address the issues raised by the council, he said.

Six new colleges

Regarding the MCI nod for starting six medical colleges, Dr. Patil said the requirements had been met in Gulbarga and Gadag. “The total quota of seats in the new colleges is 900 (150 in each college). If the MCI nod is obtained before June 15, we can start classes for this academic year.”

The new medical colleges are in Gulbarga, Koppal, Chamarajanagar, Karwar, Madikeri and Gadag.