Tamil Nadu to add 1,450 UG medical seats this year

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu will add 11 new government medical colleges and 1,450 MBBS seats for admissions in the current year as the Centre has given its nod for 150 undergraduate seats in Ariyalur, Dindigul, Nagapattinam and Krishnagiri medical colleges after virtual inspection. With this, the total number of government medical colleges in the state will go up to 37 (including ESIC Medical College in KK Nagar) and total UG seats to 5,120.
The approval comes a day after state health minister Ma Subramanian met Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya in New Delhi on Wednesday. Last month, the Centre had granted permission to Tamil Nadu to admit 850 students to undergraduate medical courses in seven new government medical colleges 150 seats each in Virudhunagar, Kallakurichi and Ooty, and 100 seats each in Namakkal, Tiruvallur, Tiruppur and Ramanathapuram medical colleges.
“The centre has also promised the state that it will consider the request to add seats 100 seats in Government Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital. We expect to get the nod this year,” Subramanian said. Although the state has applied for 200 more seats in Namakkal, Tiruvallur, Tiruppur and Ramanathapuram, the state may not get it this year, he added.
In August 2019, as a part of a national mission to increase the number of medical colleges in the country, the Centre had granted permission to Tamil Nadu for setting up 11 medical colleges. After construction of hospitals and medical colleges, members from the apex regulatory body, NMC, inspected the campuses in physical and virtual modes.
In addition to 36 government medical colleges, the state has 16 self-financing colleges affiliated to Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University that offer 2,350 MBBS seats. At least three more colleges have applied for 150 seats each for this academic year. In addition, at least three deemed universities have applied for enhancement of seats. The state has 10 deemed universities offering 2,000 MBBS seats.
Teachers in private coaching institutes say even if competition gets tough with more students scoring better, these additional seats will fulfil aspirations of more students. In 2020, the NEET cut off for the open category was 598, followed by 554 for BC, 527 for BCM, 521 of MBC, 443 for SC, 375 for SCA and 346 for ST at the government colleges. Counselling for medical and dental admissions will be held off-line as soon as NTA releases NEET results.
Besides offering medical education, these colleges will help the state expand tertiary care to districts. Hospitals attached to each of these new colleges will offer tertiary care free of cost to people. “The state has applied for medical colleges in six other districts and funds of Rs 50 crore for secondary care hospitals in 19 districts,” the minister added.