This Diwali brought a good news for the aspirant medicos as all Government Medical College and Hospitals (GMCHs) in the country will get 50 additional MBBS seats each. This is being done as a part of proposals received under ‘Upgradation of existing State and Central Government Medical colleges to increase MBBS seats in the country ‘for strengthening and upgradation of GMCHs for starting new PG discipline and increasing PG seats’.

 

The decision was taken during the video-conferencing meeting of Technical Evaluation Committee of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Every GMCH will get additional 50 seats.

 

For example Shri Vasantrao Naik Government Medical College and Hospital has at present 150 seats. Now with new addition the college’s intake will be increased to 200.

 

As far as Maharashtra is concerned, the State has 25 GMCHs including colleges run by Municipal Corporation. The intake of these 25 GMCH is 4,330. With the additional 50 seats the total intake would rise to around 5,500.

 

In Vidarbha there are six GMCH including Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) (existing intake 200), Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH) (150), GMCH, Akola (150), GMCH, Chandrapur (100), GMCH, Gondia (100), Shri Vasantrao Naik Government Medical College and Hospital, Yavatmal (150). Total intake is 700. With increase of 50 seats each, the intake would be increased to 1,000. It means Nagpur GMCH will have 250, IGGMCH to have 200, Akola GMCH 200, Chandrapur 150, Gondia 150, Yavatmal GMCH 200.

 

Government will not only approve 50 more seats but also provide Rs 60 crore each to every GMCH for the upgradation. Out of Rs 60 crore, Rs 40 crore will be given by Central Government while remaining Rs 20 crore have to be contributed by respective States. Government has calculated as Rs 1.25 crore per student. The upgradation will include increasing hostel facility, class rooms as per the students’ strength, laboratory, equipment, etc.

 

About 10 years ago Maharashtra GMCHs got 50 increased intake. Central Government then had introduced one rule according to which the Medical College completing 10 years of existence and has 100 seats would get 50 seats more. In Vidarbha three GMCH were benefitted including Yavatmal Medical College, GMCH, Akola and Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH). That time stalwart in medical education Dr Vedprakash Mishra, the then Medical Education Secretary of Maharashtra Manisha Mhaiskar, late Dr Kishor Taori had played vital role.

 

Akola GMCH and IGGMCH faced very peculiar problem. Had Dr Vedprakash Mishra failed to find solution these two medical colleges could have to be satisfied with 100 and 60 seats respectively.