NMC: 314 medical colleges to start new PG Medical courses, 104 to increase intake

NMC: 314 medical colleges to start new PG Medical courses, 104 to increase intake

Posted on 13 Mar 2024
13:11 PM

Summary

A total of 314 medical colleges will be starting new post-graduate courses, while the number of seats will be increased at a total of 104 medical colleges of the country in the academic year 2024-25

10 medical colleges have also requested the National Medical Commission to withdraw their application regarding the start of new post-graduate medical courses

The National Medical Commission, in two separate notifications on March 11 and 13, has released a list of medical colleges where new postgraduate medical courses will commence from the academic year 2024-25.

The list also contains the names of the medical colleges across the country where the number of students intake will be increased from the upcoming academic year.

As per the two notifications, a total of 314 medical colleges will be starting new post-graduate courses, while the number of seats will be increased at a total of 104 medical colleges of the country in the academic year 2024-25.

"With reference to applications received from Medical Institutions to start or increase of PG medical courses/seats for the Academic Year: 2024-25, it is informed that communications in respect of 204 online applications have been sent through the email IDs (as mentioned in online applications) to the Medical Institutions/Colleges concerned for information and necessary action by them within the stipulated timeline," said the March 11 notification.

"In continuation of MARB’s Public Notice of even number dated 11th March 2024 and with reference to applications from medical institutions for start or increase of PG courses/seats, it is informed that communications in respect of 214 more online applications (for starting of New PG Medical courses and Increase of seats in PG Medical courses for the Academic Year: 2024-25) have been sent through the email IDs (as mentioned in online applications) to the Medical Institutions/Colleges concerned for information and necessary action by them within the stipulated timeline," said the March 13 notification.

Apart from the increase in number of seats and starting of new courses, 10 medical colleges have also requested the National Medical Commission to withdraw their application regarding the start of new post-graduate medical courses for the academic year 2024-25.

Chennai: Lack of access ails new hospitals at King Institute campus in Guindy

Chennai: Lack of access ails new hospitals at King Institute campus in Guindy

The lack of reliable direct or last-mile connectivity is particularly arduous for elderly patients.

The health department opened two hospitals on King Institute campus at Guindy, but no proper transport facility is available to reach them.(Photo | Martin Louis)

Sinduja Jane

Updated on:

12 Mar 2024, 9:27 am

CHENNAI: Lack of direct public transport services and last-mile connectivity to the newly-opened Kalaignar Centenary Super Specialty Hospital and National Centre for Ageing at the King Institute campus in Guindy is putting scores of patients, caregivers and hospital staff, including doctors, in hardship every day.

The lack of reliable direct or last-mile connectivity is particularly arduous for elderly patients. Health department officials said some particularly needy elderly patients, referred from the Geriatrics Department at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital to the National Centre for Ageing, are transported by hospital vehicle. Officials have also sought help from NGOs and volunteers to help transport patients.

For others, there are only two small buses (S 30 from Ashok Pillar to Saidapet market and S 35 from Ashok Nagar to Defence Colony) that directly stop outside the campus. D Varun, an attendant who had brought his grandmother to the orthopaedic out-patient unit at the super specialty hospital on Friday, pointed out that the services were limited and their timings not well known.

The alternative is to commute via the Guindy bus depot, 800m away.

"Many of us walk to the depot to board buses to different parts of the city," Varun said. After patients had complained about the gap in last-mile connectivity, a shuttle service was introduced between the campus and the Guindy bus depot. Although the service is meant to be available every five minutes, TNIE found the wait time could be as long as 20 minutes. Worse, the service is only available from 6.30am to 1.40 pm.

After that, visitors and staff must either shell out for an autorickshaw, cab or bike service or walk to the Guindy depot via the busy Alandur road, a source in the transport department said.

"We have to pay at least Rs 75 to the local autorickshaw drivers to get dropped at the depot. Many of the staff have collected the contact numbers of auto drivers nearby so we can call them once we finish work and they can pick us up," a doctor at the hospital said.

Asked about the limited transport facilities, Health Secretary, Gagandeep Singh Bedi said the matter would be taken up with the transport department to ensure convenience for the patients.

The 1,000-bed Kalaignar Centenary Super Speciality Hospital was constructed at a cost of Rs 230 crore and inaugurated last year. The National Centre for Ageing was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually on February 25. The 200-bed facility with 40 intensive care units functions under the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital.

100 percent of first-generation voters, college students, to vote: Governor's advice to vice chancellors

100 percent of first-generation voters, college students, to vote: Governor's advice to vice chancellors

All universities to devise strategies to achieve 100 percent voter turnout among first-time voters. Governor of Tamil Nadu and Chancellor of State Universities RN Ravi discussed with the Vice Chancellors at Raj Bhavan, Chennai.

CHENNAI: Governor RN Ravi has urged college students who are first generation voters to vote 100 percent in the elections in the university vice-chancellors' advisory meeting.

In this regard, the press release issued by the Governor's House said: Tamil Nadu Governor and Chancellor of Universities RN Ravi held a consultation with all the Vice Chancellors of the Universities at the Governor's House on the 11th. At that time, he urged college students who are the first generation voters to vote 100 percent in the elections.

Considering this effort to get 100 per cent first generation voters to vote as a movement, the Vice Chancellors assured that due attention will be given to sensitize the students about voting and ensure that all of them have voter ID cards.

For this, NCC and NSS students' help was sought and development of a new app to issue voter card to students was discussed in the meeting. The meeting also discussed plans to commend colleges and departments for 100 percent student voting.

Vice-Chancellors who take steps towards 100 percent polling will be felicitated at the Governor's House. It was also advised that awareness campaigns and rallies should be conducted in universities to convey to the students about the importance of voting. The use of social networking sites and entertaining videos can greatly enhance this awareness work. It says so.

முதல் தலைமுறை வாக்காளர்களான கல்லூரி மாணவர்கள் 100 சதவீதம் வாக்களிக்க நடவடிக்கை: துணைவேந்தர்களுக்கு ஆளுநர் அறிவுரை

முதல் தலைமுறை வாக்காளர்களான கல்லூரி மாணவர்கள் 100 சதவீதம் வாக்களிக்க நடவடிக்கை: துணைவேந்தர்களுக்கு ஆளுநர் அறிவுரை

முதல்முறை வாக்காளர்களிடையே 100 சதவீத வாக்குப்பதிவை அடைவதற்கான வியூகங்களை வகுப்பதற்காக அனைத்து பல்கலை. துணைவேந்தர்களுடன் தமிழக ஆளுநரும், மாநிலப் பல்கலைக்கழகங்களின் வேந்தருமான ஆர்.என்.ரவி சென்னை ராஜ் பவனில் கலந்துரையாடினார்.

சென்னை: முதல் தலைமுறை வாக்காளர்களான கல்லூரி மாணவர்களை தேர்தலில் 100 சதவீதம் வாக்களிக்க செய்யுமாறு பல்கலைக்கழக துணைவேந்தர்கள் ஆலோசனை கூட்டத்தில் ஆளுநர் ஆர்.என்.ரவி வலியுறுத்தியுள்ளார்.

இதுதொடர்பாக ஆளுநர் மாளிகை வெளியிட்டுள்ள செய்திக்குறிப்பில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளதாவது: தமிழக ஆளுநரும், பல்கலைக்கழகங்களின் வேந்தருமான ஆர்.என்.ரவி, அனைத்து பல்கலைக்கழக துணைவேந்தர்களுடன் ஆளுநர் மாளிகையில் கடந்த11-ம் தேதி ஆலோசனை நடத்தினார். அப்போது, முதல் தலைமுறை வாக்காளர்களான கல்லூரி மாணவர்களை தேர்தலில் 100 சதவீதம் வாக்களிக்க செய்வது தொடர்பாக வலியுறுத்தினார்.

முதல் தலைமுறை வாக்காளர் களை 100 சதவீதம் வாக்களிக்க செய்யும் இந்த முயற்சியை ஓர் இயக்கமாக கருதி, வாக்களிப்பது குறித்து மாணவர்களிடம் விழிப்புணர்வு ஏற்படுத்தவும், அவர்கள்அனைவரும் வாக்காளர் அடையாள அட்டை பெற்றிருப்பதை உறுதிப்படுத்தவும் உரிய கவனம் செலுத்துவதாக துணைவேந்தர்கள் உறுதியளித்தனர்.

இதற்காக என்சிசி, என்எஸ்எஸ் மாணவர்களின் உதவியை நாடுவது குறித்தும், மாணவர்களுக்கு வாக்காளர் அட்டை வழங்க புதிய செயலியை உருவாக்குவது குறித்தும் கூட்டத்தில் ஆய்வு செய்யப்பட்டது. மாணவர்களை 100 சதவீதம் வாக்களிக்க வைக்கும் கல்லூரிகள், துறைகளை பாராட்டுவதற்கான திட்டங்கள் குறித்தும் கூட்டத்தில் விவாதிக்கப்பட்டது.

100 சதவீத வாக்குப்பதிவுக்கு நடவடிக்கை மேற்கொள்ளும் துணைவேந்தர்கள், ஆளுநர்மாளிகையில் பாராட்டப்படுவார்கள். வாக்குப்பதிவின் முக்கியத்துவம் குறித்து மாணவர்களிடம் எடுத்துரைக்க, பல்கலைக்கழகங்களில் விழிப்புணர்வு பிரச்சாரங்கள், பேரணிகள் நடத்த வேண்டும் என்றும் அறிவுறுத்தப்பட்டது. சமூக வலைதளங்களின் பயன்பாடும், பொழுதுபோக்கு வீடியோ காட்சிகளும் இந்த விழிப்புணர்வு பணிக்கு பெரிதும் வலுசேர்க்கும். இவ்வாறு அதில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.

TN may seek permission for new medical colleges

 TN may seek permission for new medical colleges 

Guidelines Will Come Into Effect From 2025: NMC

 TIMES NEWS NETWORK Chennai : 

The state health department will push for new medical colleges as 2023 regulations by National Medical Commission’s undergraduate medical education board, limiting number of medical seats in a state based on population, are likely to be deferred by at least two years. The ‘guidelines for undergraduate courses under the establishment of new medical institutions, starting of new medical courses, and increase of seats for existing course and assessment and rating regulation 2023’ published in the Gazette of India on Aug 16 had two major decisions. 

First, the number of MBBS seats in a college was capped at 150. Second, colleges were asked to follow the ratio of 100 MBBS seats for 10 lakh population in that state or UT. This means Tamil Nadu, with a population of a little more than 8 crore and more than 10,000 seats in more than 70 medical colleges, cannot apply for more colleges. After opposition from states, NMC said the guidelines would be implemented only from 2025. “The window for fresh applications was too short. When we were told it would be deferred for at least two years, we started preparing for fresh applications,” a senior TN directorate of medical education official said. In 2022, Tamil Nadu opened 11 new medical colleges but, over the past two years, hasn’t opened any new institution. Nor did it add more seats to existing govt medical colleges. Now, health department officials say, TN is keen on a policy to have at least one new medical college in every district. Soon, govt will apply for new colleges at Tenkasi, Mayiladuthurai, Tirupathur, Perambalur, Ranipet, Kancheepuram and Kallakurichi. 

“Land parcels have been identified in some districts already. We will be applying for sanctions from the finance department before applying to NMC for permission,” a senior health department official said. Applications will be sent for starting these colleges in a year or two. While senior doctors and doctors’ body including Indian Medical Association and TN Govt Doctors’Associ-ation backed NMC stating TN had already achieved the doctor-patient ratio, health secretary Gagandeep Singh Bedi had earlier told TOI that the state has a policy of establishing a medical college in every district to ensure equal distribution of doctors and tertiary care facilities. 

“Also, why should we look at Tamil Nadu data alone? The country needs more doctors. If Chennai can work well as a medical hub for the rest of India, doctors from here can work in other states too. When we have the facilities and requirements we must be permitted to start new facilities,” he said

UGC sets rules for pvt varsities to start off-campus centres

 UGC sets rules for pvt varsities to start off-campus centres

TNN | Mar 7, 2024, 05.16 AM IST

Ahmedabad: The University Grants Commission recently allowed private universities to establish their off-campus centres and announced rules for the same. The country’s private universities were not allowed to open off-campus centres so far in other states. Sources said that while this decision gives better alternatives to students, it may also result in further weakening of 16 public universities in the state.

In a meeting held on March 5, UGC decided to allow state’s private universities to open off-campus centres in any state in the country if they met the following criteria: A minimum of five years of establishment and operations and accreditation from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). However, it will not be required to have an A or a B grade in NAAC rankings.

The private university that wants to establish off-campus centres will have to meet the minimum staff, infrastructure and financial requirements set by the commission. The universities will have to provide approvals from the statutory and regulatory bodies.

The universities must present land lease documents to show they have sufficient land to establish their off-campus centres. The lease period should be a minimum of 30 years.

The universities will have to assure they will provide infrastructure, faculty and courses being offered at the main campus to the students in their off-campus centres. The universities will have to pay Rs 10 lakh as establishment fees to UGC. The commission will have the right to carry out inspections and take punitive measures against the university in cases of irregularities and complaints. The UGC may also order closure of a university’s off-campus centre if it breaches any of the regulations and in such case the university will have to facilitate shifting students to their main campus. The university will be allowed to take over an already operational college or institute in a state after procuring NOC from the university it is currently affiliated to.

Academic experts said that this decision may prove beneficial for students as they will get more options to choose from. However, it also means that the 16 government-run universities in the state will face more competition. More students may shift to these centres, leaving a large number of approved seats in the public universities vacant every year.

Colleges struggle to bridge faculty gap

Colleges struggle to bridge faculty gap

TNN | Mar 12, 2024, 05.01 AM IST

Hyderabad: With the exponential surge in the number of seats for computer science and related courses, many colleges are grappling with a shortage of faculty in the department, particularly in emerging tech courses.

“Hardly any college has the necessary faculty to effectively teach computer science courses,” stated the head of the CSE department faculty at a private college in the city. The HoD highlighted the necessity of utilising faculty from other departments to address this shortfall.

According to regulations set by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), faculty members from core engineering disciplines can teach courses in emerging areas upon completing 10 credit online courses through platforms like SWAYAM/NPTEL. “There is a dearth of qualified faculty for emerging areas, prompting AICTE to permit core engineering faculty to teach these courses post online certification,” read a circular from AICTE.

However, this guideline isn't being implemented in Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana, as colleges are hesitant to recruit core engineering faculty, despite their completion of certificate courses. Faculty members argued that hiring core engineering faculty would be mutually beneficial, providing them with employment while offering students interdisciplinary expertise. “Despite the pressing need for faculty, managements are reluctant to hire from core engineering backgrounds,” said A Santosh Kumar, president of the Telangana Schools and Technical Colleges Employees Association, attributing this reluctance to a desire to cut costs on salaries.