Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Harsha Vardhan on Sunday said that he has advised the Medical Council of India (MCI) not to reduce the numbers of seats in medical colleges as there already is a huge shortage of manpower in the hospitals.
Speaking at a Press conference here, the Minister in reply to a question on the reduction of MBBs seats in the SCB Medical College in Cuttack said he has advised the MCI to be bothered about upgrading of the quality of medical education rather than such details as infrastructure while making inspections of the medical colleges.
He said that besides the shortfall of doctors, there is a shortage of key specialists like gynaecologists and paediatriciams, technicians, nurses, health workers and other vital human resources in the hospitals.
Replying to another question on the exorbitant charges made by private hospitals despite being provided with land and other facilities by the State Government, Dr Vardhan said the Union Government would have a policy on this issue soon. But it is not a case with all the private players and the issue should not be generalised, he said.