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