8,150 seats reduced as govt bars 82 medical colleges

New Delhi: The de-recognition of 31 government medical colleges by the Centre has put government-funded medical institutions under scrutiny as colleges have been de-recognised due to deficiency of quality teachers and other required resources.

As the government barred 82 colleges, including 68 new colleges, from taking new students for medical courses, the prospects of medical students, who have cleared this year's NEET exam, may suffer as the decision has reduced 8,150 seats. According to a Health Ministry order, the government rejected the proposals of 68 new medical colleges on the recommendation of Medical Council of India.

There were 53,455 MBBS seats in the last year, which has been reduced by 10,480 seats due to non-renewal of colleges, while there has been an increase of 2,330 seats due to the renewal of new colleges. The total number of reduction in MBBS seats for this year is 8,150.

According to senior officials, the ministry had received proposals from 73 new medical colleges and after the inspection of all these colleges by the MCI, it was recommended to reject the proposal of 68 new medical colleges as the inspection team found that the colleges in question were lacking necessary facilities for MBBS course. In most of the colleges, there was not only the lack of necessary equipment though, the colleges seeking permission were short of teachers too, the official said.

A maximum number of 10 colleges failed to get government approval to start MBBS course in Uttar Pradesh followed by eight colleges in Karnataka and six colleges in Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The applications of seven medical colleges of Madhya Pradesh have also been rejected by the Health Ministry, while five medical colleges from Jharkhand failed to get the government approval.

Interestingly, a private college named as Mulayam Singh Yadav Medical College and Hospital, which is situated in Meerut, has been approved by the government to start MBBS course.