As NMC defers MBBS seat cap rule, Tamil Nadu to Apply for New Medical Colleges
Chennai: With the deferment of the National Medical Commission's (NMC) rule of capping the total number of MBBS seats in a particular State/UT, the State Health Department of Tamil Nadu will apply for new medical colleges in the State.
In this regard, the officials at the State Health Department informed TOI regarding the State policy to have at least one new medical college in every district. Soon the Government will apply for new colleges at Tenkasi, Mayiladuthurai, Tirupathur, Perambalur, Ranipet, Kancheepuram, and Kallakurichi, the officials informed the Daily.
The officials further added that already land parcels for this have been identified and the State would be applying to the finance department for its sanction before applying to NMC for its permission.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that in August last year, NMC released 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" and prescribed a ratio of 100 MBBS seats per 10 lakh population.
These Guidelines mentioned, "After A.Y. 2023-24, Letter of permission (LOP) for starting of new medical colleges shall be issued only for annual intake capacity of 50/100/150 seats; Provided that medical college shall follow the ratio of 100 MBBS seats for 10 lakh population in that state/ U.T."
As a result of this new norm, the number of seats in the medical colleges got limited to 150 MBBS seats only and the total number of MBBS seats in a State or UT also got capped. Upset with this, several Southern States including Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh were upset with this as those States already had more than allowed number of MBBS seats considering their population.
In the case of Tamil Nadu, the State has a population of a little more than 8 crore and there are more than 10,000 MBBS seats in more than 70 medical colleges. Considering the NMC rule of 100 MBBS seats/million population, Tamil Nadu became unable to apply for more colleges.
Being eligible to apply for new seats, these States opposed the NMC rules and decided to seek relaxation based on specific requirements. Facing pushback, the Health Ministry issued a directive to the NMC, which ultimately put the dictum of MBBS seat cap per population on hold till the year 2025. Issuing a notification, Dr Aruna Vanikar, President of NMC’s Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB), announced the deferment of the clause regarding provisions of the ratio of 100 MBBS seats for 10 lakh population for one year. It was announced that the rule shall be implemented from the academic year 2025-2026.
Now that the NMC rules have been deferred, Tamil Nadu is planning to apply for new medical colleges. Back in 2022, the State opened 11 medical colleges. However, in the last two years, there has not been any new medical college in the State or any newly added seats in the existing medical institutes.
As per the latest media report by the Times of India, a senior TN Directorate of Medical Education official confirmed that the State would apply for new medical colleges and added, "The window for fresh applications was too short. When we were told it would be deferred for at least two years, we started preparing for fresh applications."
Referring the State's policy of having one mew medical college in every district, the officials in the State Health Department informed the Daily regarding the Government's plans to apply for new colleges at Tenkasi, Mayiladuthurai, Tirupathur, Perambalur, Ranipet, Kancheepuram and Kallakurichi.
"Land parcels have been identified in some districts already. We will be applying for sanctions from the finance department before applying to NMC for permission," a senior Health Department official informed. Applications for starting these colleges will be sent in a year or two.
Previously, medical organisations such as the Indian Medical Association and TN Govt Doctors' Association had backed the NMC highlighting that the State already had achieved the doctor-patient ratio.
However, earlier, speaking to TOI, health secretary Gagandeep Singh Bedi had pointed out that the State has a policy of establishing a medical college in every district to ensure equal distribution of doctors and tertiary care facilities.
He had mentioned, "Also, why should we look at Tamil Nadu data alone? The country needs more doctors. If Chennai can work well as a medical hub for the rest of India, doctors from here can work in other states too. When we have the facilities and requirements we must be permitted to start new facilities."
