Apply for additional super speciality seats by May 23rd: MCI to govt medical colleges

The country has a dismal 18,000 post graduate medical seats in clinical subjects.

To ensure timely increase in super speciality medical seats, the Medical Council of India (MCI)— top body that regulates medical education, again directed eligible government-run medical colleges to apply for additional seats latest by Tuesday.

“I am directed to convey to you that central govt. has decided to grant one-time increases in seats in Super speciality courses under revised teacher student ratio in medical college (already running super speciality courses) for the academic year 2017-18. If you are interested in applying for the same, you are requested to supply the required information in the Proforma prescribed latest by May 23rd…” read the directive.

For MCI, the directive was issued by its secretary Dr Reena Nayyar.

Of late, government has taken several measures to overcome shortage of doctors in the country— WHO prescribes 1 doctor per 1000 population, while in India one doctor caters to about 17,00 people.

During this year’s budget, the Centre had announced the creation of additional medical seats every year.

The country has 472 medical colleges and close to a million registered doctors.

The expansion of post-graduate (PG) medical education is a priority for the government as the shortage of medical seats in the country affects not only the availability of specialist doctors but also the ease of getting faculty for medical colleges.

After a central government directive, MCI in January this year revised the teacher student ratio to increase PG seats in clinical subjects. The notification that was issued on January 31, had made the teacher student 1:3 for professors and 1:2 for associate professors, and they have to be unit heads.

However, the revised teacher student ratio will be applicable in all clinical subjects only to government-run medical colleges.

The measure is expected to yield about 5000 additional PG seats in clinical subjects in the coming years.

To be able to increase the seats in super speciality courses, colleges will have to provide detailed information on the number of faculty members, including professors, associate professors, assistant professors and senior residents, working in various super speciality departments, clinical material and infrastructure available in the department.

However, all necessary details need to be furnished positively by May 23.

“…Please note that if the request is received after 23 May 2017 (5pm) or is incomplete will not be entertained on account of time schedule limitations,” read the circular.