MCI approves 350 more UG seats in 7 GMCs of Karnataka

Bengaluru: Medical aspirants of Karnataka aspiring for an undergraduate seat in the state will have better luck this year, as 350 additional seats are being introduced to the state by the Medical Council of India(MCI). Seven colleges of Karnataka have been granted an additional 50 seats each in seven of its colleges from the academic year 2017-18.

The seat increase will raise seats from a 100 to 150 in Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences, Raichur Institute of Medical Sciences, Shimoga Institute of Medical Sciences, Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences, Bidar Institute of Medical Sciences, and Belagavi Institute of Medical Sciences. In the Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences, Hubballi, however, the intake will increase from 150 to 200.

The acceptance by the MCI came after the state 's Department of Medical Education's proposal for seat increase was assented to by the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS). The MCI 's consent came after it inspected the colleges for bed occupancy, number of residents, and teaching beds and other facilities. The president of MCI, vice-president, and principals of medical colleges in the country after the MCI conducted assessment, jointly recommended issuance of permission for seat increase to these colleges in April.

The Bidar Medical College however,faced issues of quality with the MCI initially, due to shortage of paramedical and non teaching staff and subscription of a lesser number of journals(85) against the MCI prescribed 100. The college was also found deficient in equipment. However, the MCI conceded later when the government of Karnataka took an undertaking promising compliance within a given time span reports, Deccan Herald .