Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, May 16: After recognition of Indira Gandhi Government Dental College (IGGDC), Jammu, the two Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) of the State were set for 50 per cent enhancement in the MBBS seats, most likely from next year’s academic session.
Presently, the two Government Medical Colleges-GMC Jammu and GMC Srinagar have been allocated 100 MBBS seats each for a year. The likely increase of 50 per cent would take their seats to 150 each.
The Medical Education Department has completed all formalities for increasing number of the MBBS seats in the two Medical Colleges of the State and submitted a comprehensive proposal in the proper format to Union Ministry for Health and Family Welfare and Medical Council of India (MCI).
About a couple of years back, a similar proposal had gone to the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry and the MCI but subsequent inspections by the latter hadn’t found the infrastructure enough in the two Medical Colleges for increasing number of the seats.
However, over the period of time the Medical Education Department devoted a lot of time to fulfill the formalities required by the MCI for increasing capacity of the seats of the two Medical Colleges from 100 to 150, which would benefits the MBBS aspirants of the State.
Commissioner/Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department MK Dwivedi told the Excelsior that the Medical Education Department has completed all formalities, required for making the two Medical Colleges of the State eligible for increasing their MBBS seats from 100 to 150.
The MCI formalities included adequate faculty, infrastructure, class rooms, auditoriums, halls and some other facilities required by the students for increasing number of the seats. However, the MCI had to satisfy itself with the facilities before giving the nod for increase in seats.
Mr Dwivedi said on the basis of the recommendations of the Medical Education Department, a MCI team would shortly undertake a visit of the two Medical Colleges to examine the facilities and infrastructure before approving the increase in number of the seats.
He added that the Medical Education Department has followed proper procedure in submitting the proposal for increase in number of the seats and there was every possibility of the proposal getting a nod of the Union Health Ministry and the MCI.
It may be mentioned here that Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad, a former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, was instrumental in recognition of the IGGDC Jammu, which was long pending demand of the students.
The State Government was confident that Mr Azad would push the case of two Medical Colleges for increase in number of their MBBS seats from 100 to 150, which would take number of MBBS seats in the two Colleges to 300. In addition, Acharya Shri Chandra College of Medical Sciences (ASCOMS) has also fixed number of quota for admission of the MBBS students.
Sources said increase in number of the MBBS seats could take effect from next year’s academic session in the two Medical Colleges as the MCI was yet to complete some formalities before giving nod for increase in the seats in two Colleges.
They added that only after the proposal for increase in MBBS seats from 200 to 300 was through that the Medical Education Department would moot a proposal for increasing number of BDS seats in two Government Dental Colleges and some private colleges of the State.
According to sources, increase in number of MBBS seats in two Medical Colleges of the State was a long pending demand of the State Government as well as people of the State especially whose kin were aspiring to study the MBBS.
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