Karnataka Cabinet Nod to 4 new Medical Colleges; 1 Rejected
Bengaluru: Subsequent to the Union Health Ministry's approval, the Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister has announced that the state cabinet has decided to set up 4 new medical colleges and the proposal to built a medical college in Kanakapura has been rejected.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported about the Union Ministry for Health and Family Welfare's nod for the establishment of 3 new medical colleges in Karnataka with over 150 MBBS seats each. Now, the 4th medical college will be set up at Chikkaballapur
As per July 2019 data, the state has 9145 MBBS seats across 59 Medical colleges. Of these, 2800 MBBS seats are in 19 government medical colleges while 6345 MBBS seats are allotted to 40 private medical institutes. With the MOHFW approval to 3 new medical colleges, the total number of MBBS seats in the state is set to cross 9500 mark. The decision was taken on the basis of the proposal given by the Karnataka government to approve the institutes situated in different districts.
Read Also: Union Health Ministry gives approval for 3 new Karnataka Medical Colleges with 450 MBBS Seats
Earlier, the PM Modi led Cabinet Committee decided that 75 new GMCs will be established. The decision noted that new medical colleges would be set up in under-served areas having no medical college; with at least 200 bedded District Hospital. Preference will be given to Aspirational Districts and District Hospital has 300 beds. All in all, the schemes on the establishment of new 75 medical colleges would lead to the addition of at least 15,700 MBBS seats in the country.
Accordingly, the Karnataka government had sent a proposal to the centre to approve the institutes situated six different districts. The state had applied for six new medical colleges in Chikkamagalur, Chikkaballapur, Chitradurga, Haveri, Yadgir and Bagalkote. Of these, 3 received the centre's approval recently- Chikkamagaluru, Haveri and Yadgiri, according to a notification issued on October 23. These medical colleges will be set up under the Centrally-sponsored Scheme.
"We are going to set up four medical colleges. They will be set up in Chikkamagaluru, Chikkaballapur, Yadagiri and Haveri districts of the state. Cabinet has approved the proposal of the medical colleges," Narayan told ANI.
He further confirmed that the proposal for a medical college in Kanakapura has been cancelled. "Kanakapura medical college stands cancelled. The state government has the right to review any proposal as long it has not been implemented. The Kanakapura college was still in the proposal stage," the Deputy Chief Minister said.
Narayan said that they were trying to set up colleges at the district level. "Before going to Taluka level, we have to set up colleges at the district level. Medical colleges at Taluka level are something unheard of," he added.
The cancellation of the Kanakapura medical college erupted major controversy in the state with speculations about the institute being shifted to Chikkaballapur. Congress leader DK Shivakumar had strongly protested against the reports of state government shifting the medical college from his constituency, Kanakapura.
When asked about the same by Jagran josh, the Minister further added that the decision to scrap medical college in Kanakapura was taken by the Cabinet after thorough consideration of all the viewpoints.
"The medical college in Chikkaballapur has nothing to do with Kanakapura," he added.
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