NMC nod to 50 more MBBS seats to Mysore Medical College and Research Institute

Mysore: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has granted permission to increase the intake capacity of undergraduate medical seats at Mysore Medical College and Research Institute (MMCRI) from 150 to 200 MBBS seats from the academic year 2024-2025.

Confirming this, the Dean of the Institute Dr. KR Dakshayani told TOI, "Our college started with 20 seats a century ago. From this academic year, the NMC has permitted us to induct 200 UG students."

MMCRI is one of the oldest medical colleges in India. Previously, it used to be called Mysore Medical College and it is also known as Government Medical College, Mysore. Although it was founded in 1924 in Bengaluru, the college was later shifted to Mysuru in 1930. 

The institute is the first medical college in a native princely state in the pre-independence era. MBBS seat capacity at the institute was increased from 100 to 150 in the year 2011. Thereafter, the college had appealed before the erstwhile Medical Council of India (MCI), now National Medical Commission (NMC) to increase the seats from 150 to 250 MBBS seats. 

Also Read: NMC inspects MMCRI, 100 MBBS seats expected to be added

As per the latest media report by the Times of India, after the addition of various new facilities at the medical college, NMC has increased the intake capacity by 50 MBBS seats. Therefore, with the addition of these 50 new MBBS seats, the college is now permitted to admit altogether 200 MBBS students from the academic year 2024-2025.

However, sources informed the Daily that the number of Postgraduate (PG) medical seats at the college are going to remain the same. At present, there are 153 PG medical seats in the country, including 23 seats in Medicine, 20 seats in General Surgery. Considering these numbers, the college did not seek NMC permission for an increase in the PG medical seats. 

Meanwhile, the activists have criticized NMC for increasing the MBBS seats at the medical college by only 50 seats. Questioning the Apex Medical Commission's decision, a former syndicate member of UoM, K Mahadev told TOI, "The NMC is generous in allowing 250 seats in many private colleges. Why just 200 seats for MMCRI which has a huge flow of inpatients and outpatients, and good bed capacity."

As per the existing rules, the already existing medical colleges in India can have a maximum number of 250 MBBS seats. However, last year, releasing the "Guidelines for Under Graduate Courses under Establishment of New Medical Institutions, Starting of New Medical Courses, Increase of Seats for Existing Courses & Assessment and Rating Regulations, 2023", which were published in the official Gazette on August 16, 2023, NMC had stated that the intake capacity for the new medical colleges being set up from the academic year 2024-2025 will be restricted to a maximum number of 150 MBBS seats.

Also Read: NMC Guidelines Put 150 MBBS Seats Intake Cap on New Medical Colleges set up from next year