Centre approves 350 more PG medical seats for State

Medical Education minister S A Ramadas, on Friday, said of the 350 seats, 100 would be allotted among the six new medical colleges in Mandya, Belgaum, Hassan, Raichur, Bidar and Shimoga, and the remaining 250 in the old colleges.

“This is a major development in the medical education sector in the state. The Centre has agreed to allot so many seats at one-go. This will help fill up vacancies of teaching faculty in medical colleges in the coming years,” he said.

The minister said that the total number of medical seats in government colleges would also go up by 500 in the next academic year. Bangalore Medical College and KIMS in Hubli get 100 each, while Mysore Medical College and VIMS in Bellary get 150 each. With that the total number of seats in the state would go up to 1,600. The Medical Council of India had completed inspection in three colleges. He said the MCI would soon complete its inspection and ratify the allotment of additional seats by the end of January.

No NEET

Ramadas said the Centre had almost dropped the idea of national eligibility entrance test for filling up medical seats in the country. During the conference of medical education ministers, held in Hyderabad, the Centre dropped the idea after discussing with the ministers from the state.

In Karnataka alone four entrance tests are conducted for medical seats. The State Government, Comed-K, minority institutions and deemed universities conduct separate tests. In Tamil Nadu and Gujarat entrance tests have been conducted in regional language. Moreover syllabus at PUC level varies from state to state. “Considering all these facts, the Centre dropped the idea of NEET,” he said.

Compulsory rural service

The minister said the Centre appreciated Karnataka’s policy making internship in rural areas compulsory for under graduate and post graduate students of medicine.