Mumbai: Gondia set to get 100-seat medical college

The MCI is a national regulatory body that lays down guidelines for medical colleges and monitors allopathy doctors.

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After a recent visit to Gondia by an MCI committee, which holds the power of adding or removing the number of medical seats allotted to a medical college, the state medical education department was asked to further improve the infrastructure and increase the number of lecturers in order to get a permit to start the college. Among the improvements, increase in x-ray machines, better medical equipment and facilities for patients were a few pointers. The state has now until March 31 to fulfill all the criteria.

“We are in the process of complying with the MCI recommendations. After that, there may be another inspection, or the direct approval to start the college may come without a second inspection,” said Dr Pravin Shinghare, Director, Medical Education and Research.

Last year, the MCI had turned down proposal to open six new medical colleges in Maharashtra in Chandrapur, Gondia, Satara, Alibaug, Baramati and Nandurbar, creating a roadblock in the government’s intention to start one medical college in each district.

Currently, Maharashtra has 14 government-run medical colleges having 2,300 medical seats, along with four colleges run by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation with 550 seats. There is one medical college each in Ambejogai, Aurangabad, Latur, Nanded, Akola, Yavatmal, two each in Nagpur, Dhule, Pune, Kolhapur, Miraj, Solapur, and four in Mumbai.

Of the over 6,000 medical seats, 1,620 are in private colleges and another 1,675 in deemed universities.

With 100 medical seats in Gondia, the state government will be able to get bonded candidates for rural hospital for one year after graduation.