Question : Medical Seats

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) the number of seats available for MBBS, MD/MS and DM/MCH in various medical colleges of the country, State/ UT-wise;

(b) whether a large number of MBBS seats for the academic years 2016-17 are lying vacant in many private medical colleges across the country, if so, the details thereof State/UT-wise and the corrective measures taken by the Government to fill these vacant seats;

(c) whether there is a huge shortage of professors, nurses, technicians etc. in all the medical colleges across the country, if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise along with the corrective steps taken by the Government in this regard;

(d) whether the Government has assessed that there are sufficient medical colleges at present in the country in view of the shortage of specialist doctors, if so, the details thereof and if not, the action taken by the Government to tackle the situation; and

(e) whether the Government is encouraging the opening of Post Graduate Medical Institutes in public and private sectors and if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)

(a): The details are given in Annexure I & II.

(b): States/UT-wise details are given in Annexure-III.

There is a time schedule governing admissions in the Medical Colleges. The seats remaining unfilled on the last date of admission cannot be filled thereafter for that academic year.




(c): As per Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 & Regulations framed there under, the medical colleges have to get yearly renewal permission till the first batch of students appear in final year examination and the course is recognized. For this purpose the MCI conducts yearly inspection of the colleges and makes its recommendation to the Central Government. Colleges found deficient in terms of faculty, residents, clinical material and other facilities for proper functioning of medical college and for offering minimum standard of medical education are not given renewal permission/recognition.

(d): There are 472 Medical Colleges in the Country including 212 in the Government Sector. The Government is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme to establish new Medical College attached with District/referral Hospitals in underserved areas of the country. The norms for establishment of Medical Colleges have been rationalized to facilitate the setting up of new Colleges. It is now made permissible for Companies to establish a Medical College. In addition measures like recognizing DNB qualification for appointment as faculty, enhancement of age limit for appointment against post of teachers/Dean/ Principal/Director in Medical Colleges from 65 to 70 years, recognizing PG degrees from 5 English speaking countries have been taken. The Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000 were amended on 31.01.2017 revising teacher student ratio in all clinical subjects in Public funded Government Medical Colleges which has resulted increase in PG seats in clinical subjects of the Government Medical Colleges.

(e): The Government is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for strengthening/upgradation of Government Medical Colleges to increase PG seats. Further, Medical Council of India Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000 facilitate grant of exemption by the Central Government to any existing/proposed non-teaching institutions or specialist institutions or autonomous body owned and managed by the Central Governments/State Governments from fulfilling the prescribed provision of having an undergraduate teaching facility and allow starting postgraduate medical course. The Government has also advised the State Governments to encourage Municipal Corporations running Hospitals with minimum 300 beds to start Postgraduate Medical Institute.