Nod for new colleges after MCI inspection

State has sought hike in intake at nine medical institutions, says Minister Ramdas

Teams from the Medical Council of India (MCI) will inspect the premises of the seven proposed government medical colleges in the State in January to review their infrastructure, before approving them, Medical Education Minister S A Ramdas said on Wednesday.

Addressing a press conference here, Ramdas said the government had already accorded permission to establish the medical colleges in Chamarajanagar, Tumkur, Haveri, Chitradurga, Koppal, Gadag and Madikeri.

The colleges will start functioning from the academic year 2013-14, once the MCI approves them, the minister said. The government has sought an intake of 100 MBBS seats in each of the colleges, Ramdas said.

The new colleges will cost the government Rs 1,400 crore over the next five years and the Centre has promised to provide grants for the same during the 12th Five Year Plan, he said.

No college has been granted to Uttara Kannada district as the district administration failed to submit its proposal to the government before August 31, the deadline set by MCI.

It’s an anti-climax of sorts to the tug-of-war between two ministers from the district - Vishveshwara Hegde Kageri and Anand Asnotikar - who were keen that a medical college be allotted to their home constituencies. While Kageri represents Sirsi, Asnotikar represents Karwar in the Assembly.

The Karnataka government has sought an increase in intake from 150 to 250 seats in KIMS, Hubli and the government medical colleges in Bellary and Mysore. It has sought an increase in intake from 100 to 150 seats in the government medical colleges in Belgaum, Mandya, Shimoga, Hassan, Bidar and Raichur, Ramdas said.

If the new colleges and increase in intake are approved, the number of MBBS seats available in government colleges will increase from 1,250 to nearly 2,600.

Increase in All India quota

Ramdas said the State government had given its in-principle approval for increasing the all India quota in government medical colleges in the State from the present 15 per cent to 20 per cent.

Compulsory rural service

The compulsory one-year rural service for medical students will be implemented once the Rural Health Bill gets the President’s assent.

The Bill was passed by the State legislature earlier this year. He said the State government had given its approval for non-Karnataka medical students who seek admission to MBBS courses in the State to serve their compulsory one-year rural service in their home state.

The present norm makes it mandatory for all medical students, including those under the all India quota, to serve at a primary health centre in the State for one year after the completion of their course.

At present 6,000 MBBS students graduate every year, of which 1,500 are from other states or have sought admission under All India quota.

NEET at seven centres

The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for undergraduate medical courses next year will be held at seven centres in the State - Bangalore, Mangalore, Hubli, Mysore, Gulbarga, Belgaum and Shimoga, he said.

Examination reforms

The new software introduced by para-medical and nursing boards for monitoring the examination evaluation process has started showing results. The pass percentage in several nursing courses had come down drastically due to transparency in the examination process, the minister said.

“In one college, the pass percentage has come down from 80 per cent to 25 per cent. The new system has ushered in complete transparency in the examination process”, Ramdas said.