In a move that would impact around 15,000 MBBS seats and thousands of students pursuing undergraduate medicine course, the Union Health Ministry has rejected proposals for setting up at least 68 new medical colleges, turned down the request of nine colleges to increase MBBS seats and that of renewal of courses in 82 medical colleges for the academic session 2018-19, citing various shortcomings across the country.
The Ministry’s decisions, which were taken last week, were based on the recommendations from the Medical Council of India (MCI), the apex regulatory body for medical education in the country, said sources in the Ministry. The decisions will also bring down the number of medical seats in the country. They said that around 8,600 MBBS seats will be lost for the academic session 2018-19 as the Ministry has denied permission to as many as 68 new medical colleges including those in Government and private sectors due to non-fulfilment of various criteria.
The axe has also fallen on 82 existing medical colleges who have been refused renewal permission for the academic session. With no renewal permission, the said medical colleges will not be able to offer MBBS courses for the coming academic session while the fate of those medical students studying in the colleges now hangs in balance.
Some medical colleges that have been denied renewal are recent setups, while there are many which have been running for years and now won't be able to take admissions. With this, approximately 15,000 seats won't be available for MBBS course this year.
Overall, the number of MBBS seats available in the country for medical applicants has come down to less than 54,000.