Infrastructural completion raises Guntur Medical College hopes for a 50% hike in PG seats

Guntur: Guntur Medical College (GMC Guntur), the oldest in the state, is all set to get a Medical Council approval for new seats, as its infrastructural project is now complete and in accordance with council norms.The college would get a substantial 50% increase in its postgraduate seats, if a go-ahead from the Council comes through, for the next academic session.

The GMC is looking for a raise from 97 seats to a 150

"We have done our job by putting up all the details as sought by the MCI. We are expecting a positive decision from them shortly," a senior official of the GMC informed TOI in this regard.

The MCI, it is believed is willing to give 44 additional seats for courses in popular demand, said sources to the TOI. GMC Principal, M Subbarao, and senior faculty members personally appeared before the MCI screening committee in New Delhi, last week, to place their point of view for their demand for new seats.

With Council inspections complete, college officials have given their documentary evidence for seeking a seat revision.

At least 16 new PG seats are expected to be added to general medicine, which has just 9 seats at present; 14 seats are to be granted to general surgery wing, which presently houses a mere 6;According to sources, paediatrics wing might go up to 8 seats from the present 2; and orthopedic section would see a hike to 11 from the available 3.

The MCI which is presently scrutinizing the submitted documents will be focusing on faculty strength of specialty units.

The Council is emphasizing on a full strength of professors, associate professors and assistant professors in the specialty wings, where a seat hike is being sought for, by the college.

MCI is perusing inspection reports that verified the number of units, bed strengths, specialized equipment available in the units, alongside faculty recruitments. "For the first time, MCI is looking into comprehensive information about the faculty, right from their appointment order at the junior level to promotion to associate professor or professor ranks with the original order copies to put an end to submission of false information by colleges. This is going to help the GMC as we have nothing to hide and have provided authentic information," said an official to TOI.