CHENNAI: Dealing a big blow to medical education aspirants in Tamil Nadu, the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry refused permission for renewal to four private medical colleges, reducing the number of MBBS seats by 600. At a minimum of 50 per cent, this would mean as many as 300 seats will be reduced from the government quota.
Citing inadequate facilities, including faculty and infrastructure, the ministry has denied permission to four colleges, each with 150 MBBS seats: Karpagam Faculty of Medical Sciences and Research, Coimbatore; Madha Medical College, Chennai; and Annai Medical College, and Melmaruvathur Adhiparasakthi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in Kancheepuram.
Of these, Karpagam Faculty of Medical Sciences and Research, Coimbatore has been barred from running the course for one year, while the rest cannot admit students for two years. As each of these colleges has 150 MBBS seats, this in effect means losing out as many as 600 seats for the coming year and 450 seats in the next year..
Yet to come to terms with the common entrance test, NEET, this is a big blow for the State. Ironically, this came even before the authorities here could finish the celebration of adding as many as 305 seats in postgraduate medical courses in government medical colleges in TN.