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CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu may be able to add more than 1,500 MBBS seats to its kitty if the state government and managements of self-financing colleges have their way. Most of these colleges have applied to the Medical Council of India (MCI), the apex body that regulates medical education, in this regard.

On Friday, officials said the government had issued “no-objection certificates” to Madurai-based CSI Medical College and Research and Kovai Medical Centre in Coimbatore, both self-financing institutions, for 150 seats each, and the directorate of medical education recommended the names of Panimalar Medical College and St Peters’ Medical College – also for 150 seats each.

Besides, three colleges that were debarred by the MCI for two years from 2017 can begin admitting 150 students each in 2019, officials said. In 2017, the MCI had barred Annai Medical College in Kancheepuram, Annapoorna Medical College in Salem and Madha Medical College in Chennai from admitting students, after they were found to have a shortage of faculty and infrastructure and and had included the names of doctors who were not working in the institute as faculty members.

Ponniah Ramajayam Medical College, which had been denied permission last year, has reapplied for permission. If these self-financing colleges get approval, they will account for 1,200 additional seats. “As long as they have prescribed faculty and standard infrastructure, permission is given to new colleges. Inspection will be conducted in all the colleges before they are given permission. If we continue to have seat-sharing process, there will be a substantial increase of government quota seats next year,” said MCI vice-chairman C V Bhirmanandam.

In addition, the state government is planning to set up a new medical college in Karur with 150 seats. “Earlier, we always applied for 100 seats then increased seats step by step. After setting up a medical college in Pudukottai it was decided that all new colleges should have at least 150 seats,” said director of medical education Dr A Edwin Joe.

At present, the state has 22 government medical colleges offering 2,750 MBBS seats, 13 self-financing medical colleges and close to 10 deemed universities .

This year, the state will apply for an increase of 100 seats each in Tirunelveli and Madurai medical colleges to 250 seats. “As a policy we have decided that we will add one new college every year. Whether or not that happens we will increase the number of seats in all government medical colleges to 250,” he said.

