CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government is awaiting approval from the National Medical Commission (NMC) to launch from 2021, undergraduate medical programmes in the 11 newly constructed medical colleges, the directorate of medical education said here on Saturday. If the state gets the approval, TN will add 1,650 seats to the undergraduate seat matrix, taking the tally to 5,200 seats in government medical colleges.
On Saturday, director of medical education Dr R Narayanababu said that the state is expecting an inspection committee from NMC, the apex medical body regulating medical education, to visit these colleges in the next few weeks.
As part of the mission to increase the number of medical colleges across the country, the Centre had granted permission to Tamil Nadu to launch 11 new medical colleges in the districts of Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar, Dindigul, The Nilgiris, Ariyalur, Nagapattinam, Kallakurichi, Tiruvallur, Tirupur, Namakkal and Krishnagiri. “We are confident of getting its nod for all colleges because we have fulfilled all requirements,” Narayanababu said.The construction of the academic blocks has been nearly completed. “Though the NMC demands only a 350-bed hospital, we have a functioning 700-750 bed hospital in each of these colleges. Deans, doctors and faculty have joined duty. We now have the Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University affiliation for all colleges,” Narayanababu said. The anatomy, physiology and biochemistry labs, library, hostels — required for first year students — have been completed. “Some minor civil work such as electrical lines and plumbing is being carried out now. It will be completed soon,” he said.
Tamil Nadu has allotted Rs 2,470.93 crore in the 2021 interim budget for these colleges. With this, most districts in the state will have at least one government medical college. Besides increasing the number of seats, these colleges would help expand tertiary care to districts. “By establishing medical colleges, we will now be able to provide quality medical training at affordable cost and offer speciality and super speciality care to people living in these areas free of cost,” said health secretary J Radhakrishnan.