In a bid to reduce scarcity of doctors in the country, the Medical Council of India (MCI) has increased the number of seats for undergraduate medical education by 6,350 from this academic session (2013-14).
While the regulatory body added 25 new medical colleges this year, taking the total to 387, the largest number of medical seats have been added this year as compared to recent years. In 2009-10, 1,800 seats were increased and 1,825 seats were increased in 2010-11. In 2012-13, too, only 3,895 MBBS seats were enhanced.
The recent enhancement for 32 government medical colleges by adding 50 more seats as a one-time measure this year has given 1,390 seats. “This year, the largest number of medical seats of 6,350 has been added. Thanks to the one-time enhacement in the intake capacity by 50 more seats. This way more meritorious students will be able to join government medical colleges,” sources said.
At present, there are 181 government and 206 private medical colleges with a capacity of 51,950 MBBS seats and 23,900 PG seats (including the upcoming six AIIMS-like institutions). In 2009-10, only 11 more medical colleges were given approval, followed by 14 medical colleges in 2010-11 and 21 in 2011 and 2012.
According to the official data since May 2009, approximately 18,420 MBBS seats and 10,000 PG superspeciality seats have been created. Ninety-seven medical colleges have been established since 2009. “There are 181 government medical colleges with approximately 24,700 MBBS seats and 206 private medical colleges with approximately 27,200 MBBS seats.”
With this increase, Karnataka becomes the state having the maximum number of colleges and medical seats. Of the total number of medcial colleges, 66 per cent of the medical colleges are in south and west. Karnataka has a total of 46 medical colleges (34 private and 12 government) now with 6,755 seats. Tamil Nadu stands second with 45 medical colleges (24 private and 21 government) with 6,215 MBBS seats, followed by Andhra Pradesh, which has a total of 43 medical colleges (28 private and 15 government colleges) with 6,350 seats.