MCI clears 300 more seats in three government-run colleges

Kolkata: Giving a great boost to the health infrastructure in the state, the Medical Council of India (MCI) once again cleared altogether 300 MBBS seats in three newly set up government-run medical colleges in the state for the academic year 2019-20.

Raiganj Government Medical College and Hospital, Rampurhat Government Medical College and Hospital, Cooch Behar Government Medical College and Hospital have received 100 seats each.

All these medical colleges have been set by the state health department following the instruction of the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

It may be mentioned here that the MCI had recently granted 350 seats at the undergraduate level at three medical colleges in the state, including a government-run institution. In the earlier phase, the Diamond Harbour Govt Medical College and Hospital, set up by the state government had obtained 100 seats for the current academic year.

Apart from Diamond Harbour Medical College, two private medical colleges — ICARE Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Haldia, and Shri Ramkrishna Institute of Medical Sciences and Sanaka Hospitals, Durgapur, have received 100 and 150 MBBS seats each, respectively.

With the latest announcement by the MCI, the total the number of under graduate medical seats for the current academic years had a substantial increase up to 650.

All the four government medical colleges have to take permission from the MCI every year before admitting candidates in these seats.

The MCI officials inspected the infrastructure of all the newly constructed government medical colleges before finally granting permission to take candidates for the current academic year.

Dr A.K Maity, an expert in the field of medical education in the country said: "The number of medical seats has gone up in the state due to the efforts of our Chief Minister. After being prodded by the Chief Minister, the state government set up many medical colleges. Students from Bengal would be benefitted. I would also urge the government if it takes some initiative so that the candidates from the state can be secured admission under the management quota in non-government medical colleges."

The Mamata Banerjee government had taken up significant steps to address the dearth of doctors in the government hospitals. Banerjee felt the need to create more opportunities for aspiring medical students after she came to power. She announced medical colleges in various districts to tide over the crisis.