GMCHs across country to get approval for increased 50 MBBS seats every year
16 Nov 2020 09:31:40
By Vikas Vaidya :
Apart from already increased 50 seats since 2019, Maharashtra gets 350 more seats
Under the Central Government scheme all the Government Medical Colleges and Hospital (GMCHs) in country got 50 additional MBBS seats each in 2019, the approval of the same would be given every year for next four years. This year, all the GMCHs got approval and accordingly the respective States incorporated those additional seats in their total number of seats. The only addition in Maharashtra GMCHs is of 350 seats which have been already added in the list of total MBBS seats of 4,330 of State.
The admissions to these increased 350 seats will be made from this academic year 2020-21. It has been included in seat matrix. Padma Shri Dr Tatyarao Lahane, Director of Medical Education and Research (DMER) told ‘The Hitavada’, “Nadurbar’s Government Medical College and Hospital got 100 seats while 50 seats have been added to the kitty of Latur and Kolhapur GMCH each making it to 200 in Government-run GMCH.” One Medical College owned by former Minister Narayan Rane got 150 seats making the total increased seats in Maharashtra to 350.
The increased seats is the outcome of the Central Government scheme ‘Upgradation of existing State and Central Government Medical colleges to increase MBBS seats in the country’ for strengthening and upgradation of GMCHs for starting new PG discipline and increasing PG seats'. This is an ambitious plan of Central Government with an aim of reducing the gap between Under Graduate (UG) and Post Graduate (PG) medical course. The seats of Post Graduate course are increased but not the seats of UG course creating a bit imbalance. Government has prepared a proper plan in that regard as Rs 60 crore each will be given to every GMCH for the upgradation, while some have got some amount.
Years together excluding a few medical colleges the upgradation or renovation is not done in GMCHs in State. Though Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will not say a single word at least for four years to GMCHs if facilities are not created coping with the increased 50 seats, the GMCHs have to submit proposal for increased 50 MBBS seats every year. Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital for 15 years had to seek approval for increased 40 seats every year submitting proposal with affidavit of compliance. Of course the GMCHs don’t have to go through that type of procedure but are expected to develop facilities as per the requirement of increased 50 seats.
The upgradation will include addition of more hostel rooms, the volume and other facilities are to be added in class rooms as per the students’ strength, laboratory to be given a facelift with the addition of advanced technology, every GMCH has to check the depriciation value of existing equipment and has to modify those if needed. Central Government has specifically asked GMCHs to focus on the library which is expected to be modernised.