All India Education News

In two years’ time, Gujarat plans to double the number of MBBS seats available in medical colleges in the state.

Close on the heels of sending proposals to Union health ministry for setting up four new medical colleges, the state government has given no-objection certificates to eight new medical colleges which will now go to the Centre for clearance. Of these, three are private and five are government colleges.

The eight new colleges have been planned in six cities: two each in Ahmedabad and Surat and one each in Valsad, Palanpur, Mehsana and Nadiad. Among the earlier four, two are in Ahmedabad (including one attached to municipal-run LG Hospital) and one each in Patan and Bhuj.

If all goes well, the 12 new medical colleges would add 1,700 medical seats, retaining many students who spend hundreds of crores of rupees to pay donation and fees to get admission in colleges across Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

At present, the state has 12 medical colleges, of which four are private, two municipal-run and the rest are run by government. Put together, they have 1655 seats.

Officials told TOI that after sitting over proposals for over five years, the state government has finally realised that an increase in `medical seats has become imperative.

It is estimated that the state loses an average Rs 400 crore annually as about 700 students pursue MBBS and other para-medical courses in other states.

The four colleges already proposed are expected to add 700 seats and the healthy ministry is hopeful that these seats will get clearance for starting in 2009-10. The eight new proposals are expected to add 1,000 seats and the state is hoping to get clearance for academic year 2010-2011.

“It is high time that more medical seats are made available in Gujarat. There state is severely lagging behind in this respect. The move would benefit students and improve health infrastructure immensely,” said dean of BJ Medical College, Dr Bharat Shah.

The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) will train and prepare hundreds of paramedics in the fields like cardiology, maternal health and hospital administration for hospitals in Delhi.

The Delhi Government and the IGNOU on Friday signed an agreement to this effect. It will enable scores of hospitals in the capital to get trained paramedical staff in 12 disciplines.

The IGNOU will provide admission to the learners sponsored by the government of Delhi, distribute self-instructional material, provide study centres for various courses and academic counseling, and allow use of satellite communication channels for tele-conferencing, interactive video-counseling etc.

Besides fresh candidates, the city government would sponsor in-service candidates for various programmes in IGNOU. The varsity will provide 10 percent discount on fees for candidates sponsored by the Delhi Government.

“It has been decided to develop strategies to design, develop and implement academic courses and continuing medical education and training programmes. Both the parties would facilitate in this direction and ensure capacity building and skill development of the trainees,” the agreement said.

India is facing an acute shortage of medical professionals - from paramedics to doctors - and the situation in the national capital is no different, officials said. IANS