Karnataka submits proposal to NMC for enhancement of UG, PG seats

The government, in a bid to significantly enhance seats in government medical colleges in the State, has submitted a proposal to National Medical Commission (NMC) seeking 800 more seats for undergraduate (UG) and 700 more for postgraduate (PG) medical courses.

The government, in a bid to significantly enhance seats in government medical colleges in the State, has submitted a proposal to National Medical Commission (NMC) seeking 800 more seats for undergraduate (UG) and 700 more for postgraduate (PG) medical courses.

The request has been made in the light of high demand for clinical courses, said Dr. Sharan Prakash Patil, Minister of Medical Education and Skill Development, speaking during an interaction with The Hindu on Thursday.

“Most government colleges in Karnataka have more infrastructure and material for practising clinical courses and we are eligible to get more clinical seats,” he said.

“Earlier, we used to give proposals for enhancement of only 100 to 150 seats in a couple of old medical colleges for PG courses. This year, except for the newly started government medical colleges in Chickballapur, Chikkamagaluru, Haveri, and Chitradurga, we have submitted a proposal for enhancement of seats in all other government medical colleges,” he said.

An enhancement of about 50 UG medical seats had been requested for each government medical college. “Without establishing new colleges, Karnataka can potentially get seats equivalent to opening four to five medical college this way,” said the Minister.

Further, Dr. Patil said that the Finance Department had advised that appropriate steps be taken to make government medical colleges self-sustaining in the long run.

“In this regard, we have studied the models of different States, including Gujarat and others. Therefore, we are mulling over charging higher fees for the enhanced UG seats. It will bring good income to the government medical colleges and they will become self-sustaining. This will help colleges avoid dependence on the government fund,” he explained.