Maharashtra: RCSM GMC gets MCI permission for renewal of lost 50 MBBS seats

Maharashtra: RCSM GMC (Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Government Medical College) has recently received an approval from MCI for offering 50 MBBS seats. It has lost the MCI recognition for these 50 MBBS seats three years back. With this news, the medical college will now offer 150 MBBS seats in the coming academic year.

MCI has intimated to the health ministry regarding its decision on approval of 50 seats for the medical college, after noting that RCSM complied with the council’s norms. The college had to face the MCI axe after there were noted infrastructure deficiencies in the institute for 15o students. The 50 seats were cancelled in 2013-14. The Union health secretary has intimated RCMS recently of its decision.

"Approval of 50 seats is the result of consistent efforts by the officers and staff of the government medical college. The decision will help society as the college will produce 50 more doctors every year," said Jayprakash Ramanand, dean of the college to TOI.

In addition he implied that this decision will help many local aspirating candidates as the college will now have adequate seats and increase its intake of students. With more students joining the institute, there will be more doctors to attend to patients in the society.

RCMS was incepted in 2001 and offered 100 MBBS seats for its first batch of students. Subsequently, the intake of MBBS students was increased from 100 to 150. In 2013, the college had to face the MCI wrath, after the council’s committee noted shortage in teaching staff to attend to the number of students in the college. The MCI committee made a report recommending withdrawal of 50 seats.

After the college was granted Rs 80 crore for improvement of infrastructure facilities from the state government recently, did the matter of shortfall at the college premise got addressed. The funds were granted only when the college management and citizens' action committee pursued the matter relentlessly.

The college received funding in 2015 for improving infrastructure at its Shenda Park premise. More teachers were recruited. Now, the efforts have paid off as the college has regained the 50 seats.