The number of MBBS seats in old government medical colleges may be lowered, if the Medical Council of India has its way .
MBBS aspirants in the state are already reeling under severe shortage of seats. There are just 4,800 MBBS seats available in 37 medical colleges across the state. Last year, 70,000 candidates vied for these seats through Eamcet. This year, the number of applications has already crossed 95,000.
While the demand for MBBS seats has increased over last year, students face the risk of losing even the existing seats.
The MCI, which recently inspected the old government medical colleges in the state, is learnt to have conveyed its dissatisfaction over the enhancement of intake by 50 seats in these colleges. MCI made it clear that the existing infrastructure and faculty in these colleges are unable to support even the existing intake.
Officials are worried that the MCI may cut down the intake by 50 each in government medical colleges if the state fails to provide adequate funds immediately to take up fresh faculty recruitment drives and create additional infrastructure.
While Osmania Medical College has 200 seats, the other government medical colleges have 150 each. The government has proposed to enhance the seats by 50 each in 10 old government medical colleges, resulting in an addition of 500 seats.
Besides, there were plans to secure 100 seats each in three new private medical colleges. The MCI is yet to take a decision on this issue.
