GMC seeks MCI nod for MBBS seat increase

GMC seeks MCI nod for MBBS seat increase
TNN

PANAJI: Armed with temporary affiliation from the Goa University to increase the intake capacity for MBBS attheGoa Medical College and Hospital,
Bambolim, from 100 to 150 seats, GMC officials have sent a proposal to the Medical Council of India (MCI), seeking the monitoring body's nod for the increase in seats.

The government had initially proposed to increase the number of seats at GMC from 100 to 200 from the next academic year, however, new MCI guidelines do not allow for the numbers. "The maximum number of admissions in the MBBS course shall not exceed 150 annually," state the guidelines.

The decision to increase the seats at GMC was taken after the state government scrapped the proposal to have a private medical college. "We have had discussions regarding a private medical college (in Goa) and it was felt that there is no need for another medical college in the state. We will try to get MCI recognition for the Mapusa hospital to ensure that interns from GMC are posted there," health minister Vishwajit Rane had earlier announced.

Sources said that a similar pattern of posting interns would be followed at the Hospicio hospital in Margao. This, health department sources said, would solve the problem of staff shortage to some extent.

To get the MCI nod, however, GMC will have to provide additional equipment and facilities such as staff, space, funds, equipment and teaching beds for the increased number of seats.

Even GU, while granting temporary affiliation for the academic year 2010-2011, has put down a condition that the minimum requirement of faculty positions, as specified by MCI guidelines, should be appointed by GMC. Also, the number of clinical unitsneeded for 150 seats should be created as per MCI requirements, GU has said.

"At present, we are short of 30 doctors. We are working hard to meet this requirement. Besides, we have to increase the infrastructural facilities provided in the hospital, which also includes more number of clinical units," said a senior doctor at GMC. The staff shortage is mostly in PG clinical courses such as medicine, paediatrics and orthopaedics.


The government had initially proposed to increase the number of seats at GMC from 100 to 200 from the next academic year, however, new MCI guidelines state that the maximum number of admissions in the MBBS course shall not exceed 150 annually

14 September 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition