Karnataka applies for 138 PG medical seats in 10 medical colleges

Bengaluru: In order to boost up its existing medical education sector, the Karnataka government has applied for new 138 additional Post-Graduate medical (PG seats) under various courses for its 10 medical colleges. At present, the state has 16 government medical colleges.

The data recorded by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare showed that the state's Medical Education Department received 891 applications from its existing medical colleges regarding an increase in seats for PG courses for the upcoming academic year of 2019-20.

This decision to have more PG seats comes in view of the good infrastructure at medical colleges across Karnataka. Confirming the information to Bangalore Mirror, DK Shivakumar, Minister for Medical Education said, "The application is based on the eligibility of students and infrastructure. We have good infrastructure and hence are proud to request for more PG seats."

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"There are grants also that the students can avail of. I am increasing those grants to up to Rs 3 lakh now," he added.

The focus for more post-graduate seats also relies on the medical facilities at rural areas where there is an immense shortage of doctors. Minister Shivakumar went on to add, "We want our students to study in rural areas. I am making it compulsory now that they should at least in Taluk hospitals or colleges. This will benefit the State better in medical education facilities."

With new infrastructure and rise in manpower at its medical colleges, the state is confident to have more medical seats, implied the Director of the Medical Education Department, Dr Girish.

He stated to Mirror, "We are introducing new clinical infrastructure at our state-run medical colleges and hospitals and increasing the manpower as well. So we need more people in proportion to the infrastructure. In order to that have that ratio, we have applied for 138 PG seats for the next academic year."

The central agencies conduct an inspection of our colleges, the state's infrastructure and only then do they allow the medical education department the chance to increase PG seats. Dr Girish added, "We can allot the approved seats for PG seats after the entrance tests."

For one medical PG seat, the cost is Rs 1.2 crore, which is shared in the ratio of 60:40 among the Centre and State government. The last date for grant of approval for an increase in the number of PG seats is February 2, an official informed.

Medical Dialogues had recently reported that the Karnataka government is considering increasing MBBS course fee from the present Rs 17000 to Rs 50000 and that of PG courses from Rs 50000 to Rs 3 lakhs.

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In addition to this proposal, the government is also likely to introduce Non-Resident Indian (NRI) quota in all its state-run medical colleges; so that the fees paid by these medical students could be used to patch up the financial conditions of these institutes.

The information was declared at the Karnataka Legislative Council by the Minister for Medical Education D K Shivakumar during the question hour.

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