Karnataka: MCI gives nod to start three new government medical colleges

Karnataka: Medical aspirants are in for some good news as the MCI has recently sanctioned three new government medical colleges at Kodagu, Karwar and Chamarajanagar from the following academic year.

While making this announcement at a local event, Medical Education Minister Sharanprakash Patil implied that with this development, there are 450 medical seats to be added under the government quota for the ensuing academic year. Each of these three government colleges will offer 150 seats in their own capacity. MCI, after the inspection, has renewed the permission to admit 150 students each, after noting fulfillment in college infrastructure and faculty in these colleges.

He further implied that permanent recognition has been granted to Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute and Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences, Hubballi by MCI. With this the council has permitted an intake of 250 students and 150 students respectively. An MCI nod is now awaited on government medical colleges in Mysuru and Ballari, with an intake of 150 students each.

Hindu reported that Dr. Patil said that with the MCI’s nod for the three new government medical colleges, the total number of seats in the government medical colleges in the state stood at a record 2,200. “Getting MCI’s permission to start six new government medical colleges after fulfilling all the requirements of teaching staff and infrastructure facilities as stipulated by it within three years is a record of sorts,” he added.

Express reported that renewing permission to ESIC Medical College, Kalaburagi, has not come up, Patil said. With the proposed six, the number of government medical colleges in Karnataka will jump to 22, he added.

In addition, Dr Patil also emphasized on the fact that all new government colleges are being set up in remote areas, with six more colleges likely to come at Yadgir, Bagalkot, Haveri, Tumukuru, Chitradurga and Chikballapur. The state government is ensuring all steps to set these up, and the preliminary work of starting a society, identifying the land and transferring it for constructing the new medical colleges, framing the bylaws and preparing estimates for the construction has already been completed.