After missing PG Diploma Seats Conversion, Goa Medical College applies for 50 PG Degree seats for 2020-21

Panaji: After failing to get its Post Graduate (PG) Diploma seats converted to PG degree; Goa Medical College (GMC) is making its move to compensate the major slip.

According to a recent media report, a proposal by the Goa Medical College to get recognition of its 50 PG medical seats has been sent to the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry after the Medical Council of India (MCI) modified its guidelines regarding the student-faculty ratio.

The medical college possesses 124 PG seats comprising 26 diploma seats. With the approval, PG degree seats would be added and the diploma seats will remain the same. The medical college is hoping to add the 50 PG medical seats by the year 2020.

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported about the public notice issued by the Union Health Ministry giving a last chance to medical colleges to take advantage of the scheme proposed by the MCI which decided to stop all MCI recognised Post-Graduate diploma courses in Medical colleges and give an equal number of MD/MS seats in return.

Read Also: Conversion of PG Diploma Seats to MD, MS seats: Ministry of Health issues notice

Following the announcement of this one time opportunity, the majority of the states rushed at the opportunity to get additional PG degree seats. However, Goa Medical College with its 22 PG diploma seats had missed the bus allegedly due to the "lethargic approach" of the Dean Dr Naik.

Read Also; Conversion of PG Diploma to MD,MS seats: Goa Medical College loses 22 seats, students see red

When asked for clarification as to why an opportunity like this was wasted, the administration has stated that there was a fear of losing the seats on up gradation in case any deficiencies were observed later.

Had GMC availed this one-time up gradation it would have enhanced its tally of 139 Medicine Doctor (MD) and Master of Surgery (MS) seats by 22.

These 22 diploma seats ranged in a number of specialisations including radiology, paediatrics, orthopaedics, preventive and social medicine, anaesthesia and gynaecology that could have been upgraded.

Read Also: Conversion of PG Diploma to MD,MS seats: Goa Medical College loses 22 seats, students see red

Read Also: Goa Medical College misses bus to convert PG Diploma Seats; Dean Relieved for Committing SERIOUS Lapses

Now, on the proposal for enhancing the PG degree pool, the Dean, Goa Medical College, Dr S M Bandekar informed the TOI, "We are positive of getting this proposal approved by the ministry. It has been sent well in advance to the ministry and within the stipulated time frame."

The required infrastructure would be upgraded in a phased manner once the proposal was approved, he added.

The medical college had missed the chance of getting its PG diploma course converted into a PG degree course.

Since the proposal has reached the ministry; the medical college administration is looking forward to get 50 more MBBS seats as well, adds the daily.