In a fervent plea to the government regarding medical seat allocations in both MBBS and PG courses, a Parliamentary Committee on Health and Family Welfare has underscored the pressing need for immediate attention. The committee, presided over by Bhubaneswar Kalita, a BJP MP in the Rajya Sabha, highlighted the stark reality – an annual influx of approximately two million aspiring medical students seeking MBBS, with only 1/20 available seats, creating an immense demand-supply gap.
Recognizing the urgency of addressing this challenge while upholding the pinnacle of quality in medical education, the committee proposes multifaceted solutions. The National Board of Examinations (NBE) reports a staggering 2,08,898 candidates appearing for the NEET PG 2023 against the backdrop of a mere 68,073 postgraduate seats nationwide, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
“To tackle this challenge effectively, numerous measures can be instituted. Primarily, a substantial increase in medical seats, both in undergraduate and postgraduate courses, is imperative. The government’s current initiative, emphasizing the establishment of new medical colleges linked to district or referral hospitals, can play a pivotal role in achieving this objective,” suggests the committee.
Furthermore, the committee advocates for optimal utilization of existing infrastructure as a key strategy. Maximizing the efficient use of all available resources and facilities can accommodate a larger student populace without compromising educational quality.
Government statistics reveal a noteworthy surge in the number of medical colleges – 702 in the year 2023-24, marking an 81% increase from 2013-14. Correspondingly, MBBS seats witnessed an almost 110% surge from 51,348 in 2013-14 to 1,08,990 in 2023-24, while postgraduate seats rose from 31,185 to 68,073 during the same period.
Streamlining the admission process by implementing a standardized national entrance examination is another recommendation posited by the committee, aiming to enhance fairness and transparency in seat allocation, as stated in its 157th report presented in the Rajya Sabha last week.
Government data highlights Karnataka leading with the maximum medical seats (17,005), trailed by Tamil Nadu (15,861), Maharashtra (15,816), Uttar Pradesh (12,962), and Telangana (9,104).
Committee Chairman Bhubaneswar Kalita, in a conversation with ETV Bharat, suggests exploring private investment in medical education as an additional avenue. Providing incentives and regulatory support to private institutions willing to establish medical colleges could not only augment seat availability but also introduce healthy competition and innovation in medical education.
“The ministry should leverage technology for distance learning and organize virtual classrooms as a supplementary solution to address the seat shortage, allowing a more significant number of students access to medical education without overburdening physical infrastructure,” emphasized Kalita.
Maharashtra leads the list of states with the most registered doctors practicing within its borders, boasting 1,88,540 doctors, followed by Tamil Nadu (1,48,216), Karnataka (1,31,906), Andhra Pradesh (1,05,795), and Uttar Pradesh (89,286).
