Medical college crisis: Here’s why Punjab lost almost 250 MBBS seats this year

100 seats were lost as Gian Sagar Medical College was closed. Admissions to Chintpurni Medical College were banned too, affecting 150 seats

Chandigarh: Medical aspirants seeking admission to MBBS courses in Punjab will have to contend with fewer seats this time as one medical college in Banur was closed and admissions to the other institute in Pathankot were banned for two years .

At present, Punjab has three government medical colleges, while five others, which will admit students from this session, are private institutes. Going by past trends, Government Medical College, Patiala and Ludhiana’s Dayanand Medical College (DMC) and Hospital are most sought after among the top rankers.(Bharat Bhushan/Hindustan Times/For representation only)

Just before the beginning of the session this year, the state lost 100 MBBS seats as the Banur-based Gian Sagar Medical College was closed. Then admissions to the Pathankot-based Chintpurni Medical College with 150 MBBS seats were banned for two years by the Medical Council of India due to ‘deficiencies’ in the institute. The state health education department at the moment is scrutinising the matter regarding withdrawal of permissions to set up the college.

Experts say that the loss of 250 seats in a single year reveals the crisis in Punjab’s medical education.

Private medical institutes have fared the worst as these have time and again have failed to adhere to MCI’s norms due to less bed occupancy and shortage of faculty.

The recent decision of the Captain Amarinder Singh-led Punjab government to approve a government medical college in SAS Nagar with 100 MBBS seats is a welcome step and will compensate the loss of seats.

The college is likely to start in two years.

At present, Punjab has three government medical colleges, while five others, which will admit students from this session, are private institutes.

Centralised counselling

Following the Centre’s directions, Punjab is holding joint counselling for all its institutes, both government and private.

The agency executing the admissions, Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot, has already invited applications following NEET results and will release the provisional merit list on July 16.

The last date to apply online is July 11.

Going by the past trends, Government Medical College, Patiala and Ludhiana’s Dayanand Medical College (DMC) and Hospital are most sought after among the top rankers.

Students having state domicile certificate or those who have passed Classes 11 and 12 from Punjab schools are eligible for its 85% state quota seats, while others will have to compete in the 15% all-India quota to seek admission in Punjab.

The total number of MBBS seats in Punjab colleges is 1,125.