Maharashtra to get 692 more PG medical seats, 150 MBBS seats this year

Mumbai: Medical Education in Maharashtra is expected to get a major boost as a total number of 150 MBBS seats and 692 PG seats are expected to get added to the State's seat matrix.

The confirmation regarding this came from the the Union Health Ministry which informed about this to the Parliament. In fact, an official from the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) confirmed that the Centre has already given its nod for some colleges where inspection was completed, while the nod for the other medical colleges were being processed.

Medical Dialogues had recently reported that Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya recently informed the Lok Sabha that a total of 612 Medical Colleges are currently functioning in India with an intake capacity of 91,927 MBBS seats.

According to the data tabled by the Union Health Minister, 3495 MBBS seats have been approved under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Up-gradation of existing Government medical colleges to increase MBBS seats in the country. Under this scheme a total number of 150 MBBS seats are being added to Maharashtra.

Also Read: With 91,927 MBBS seats, 612 Medical Colleges operative in India: Health Minister gives breakup

Referring to the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for 'Strengthening and up-gradation of State Government medical colleges for starting new PG disciplines and increasing PG seats', the data revealed that 5930 seats (4058 PG medical seats in Phase I and 1872 seats in Phase II) have been approved in 22 States/UTs in 2 Phases. Among this, the Centre has approved 692 PG seats in Maharashtra, stated the data.

As per the last year's data, Maharashtra had a total number of 4922 PG medical seats (MD/MS/DM/MCH/Dip) including 2786 seats in Government medical colleges and 2978 medical seats in Private medical colleges. Therefore, with the approval for another 692 seats, the total number of PG medical seats in the State will cross 3,000 for the first time.

Times of India adds that the medical education department of the State had sent a proposal to the Centre seeking its permission to increase seats across 15 medical colleges for the academic years 2022-23. The proposal had been sent on the basis of the existing infrastructure.

Confirming the centre's approval for the increase of seats, a DMER official mentioned that the State needed to increase the manpower. He also told TOI, "We need more specialised doctors and an increase in postgraduate seats will ensure that. We had proposed an increase of almost 25% in colleges which fulfil all criteria. Approvals will come through only after inspections by the National Medical Commission."

While commenting about the issue, a parent representative told the daily, "The government should ensure the information on new seats is released before admissions commence."

Also Read: 296 PG Medical Seats Remain Vacant In Maharashtra this year