Students sitting for MBBS exams (Representative image.)
Credit: iStock Photo
Bengaluru: The total number of available MBBS seats in the state is likely to increase by more than 1,500 in the wake of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) clearing the recommendations made by the Local Inspection Committee (LIC) for increasing the quantum of seats at eight private and 16 state-run medical colleges across the state.
The RGUHS syndicate, which met recently, cleared the LIC recommendations for increasing enrolment for medical courses at the 24 institutions. According to details accessed by DH, RGUHS has proposed adding 1,600 seats at the existing colleges, besides having approved a new private medical college in Hunsur in Mysuru.
Furthermore, should the new government medical colleges proposed at Ramanagara and Kanakapura start functioning from the 2025-26 academic year – the state has assured RGUHS of shoring up infrastructure to meet the varsity’s criteria –250 more seats will be added to the overall tally of available medical seats in Karnataka.
However, the varsity’s approval for increasing enrolment at the medical colleges has been met with criticism from stakeholders. Some of the colleges that have been allowed to increase the intake of students were penalised by the National Medical Commission (NMC) for lack of infrastructure, and adequate faculty strength.
“The increase in student intake for state-run colleges has been recommended following an undertaking by the Karnataka government to address all the lacunae highlighted by the RGUHS committees,” said a university official.
A former Vice-Chancellor of RGUHS, however, pointed out that the addition of seats on such a scale – upwards of 1,500 – had not been approved hitherto. “I hope the NMC re-examines all the facilities at the colleges before giving its final nod,” the former VC said.
A former member of the RGUHS syndicate sought to point out that some of the colleges that have received the varsity’s nod for increasing enrolment lacked adequate faculty strength for existing students, who numbered between 100 and 150. “How can the university recommend increasing the intake by 100? We suspect something amiss, and urge the NMC to be vigilant,” the former syndicate member said.
Some of the former members of the syndicate have decided to write to the Karnataka Governor to look into the issue. As on date, the total number of MBBS seats across the many medical colleges is 11,500.