Govt adds over 4,000 PG seats in medical colleges

Centre has approved the addition of more than 4,000 seats in post-graduate courses in medical colleges this year to meet the rising demand for higher education in the healthcare sector.

New Delhi

Centre has approved the addition of more than 4,000 seats in post-graduate courses in medical colleges this year to meet the rising demand for higher education in the healthcare sector. (Shutterstock photo)

Centre has approved the addition of more than 4,000 seats in post-graduate courses in medical colleges this year to meet the rising demand for higher education in the healthcare sector.

The 4,193 seats approved on Thursday by the health ministry will come up in 71 government medical colleges across the country, taking the total number of post graduate seats available in the country to 35,117.

“It is an all-time record number of PG medical seats that have been approved by the government in various medical colleges and hospitals for the academic session 2017-18,” claimed a health ministry statement.

“This will further boost our resolve to strengthen tertiary care and improve medical education in the country,” health minister JP Nadda said.

The additions include in DNB seats, which are equivalent to MD/MS, which have been increased by 2,147 in the last one year.

At least 1,000 more seats are likely to be added this month, Nadda said, in reference to finance minister Arun Jaitley’s budget announcement to add 5,000 seats in PG medical courses.

“We are likely to achieve the target soon,” said Nadda, adding that several colleges have sent proposals to add more seats, and these are being studied.