Guj to soon have a medical college in each district: Health minister

Gandhinagar: Speaking in the assembly on Tuesday, state health minister Rushikesh Patel said that the dream of having a medical college in each district of Gujarat will soon be fulfilled. He added that the state is set to get approval to add 450 undergraduate medical seats and 1,011 postgraduate medical seats.

In reply to a question about the number of doctor of medicine (MD) and master of surgery (MS) seats in the state, the minister said that currently, there are 2,044 MD seats and 932 MS seats in medical colleges of the state. He added that in the past two years, there was an increase of 446 MD seats and 211 MS seats.

"PM Modi has resolved to have a medical college in every district of the country and the state govt is making continuous efforts towards achieving this goal. The goal of having a medical college in every district of Gujarat is nearing completion," the minister said without providing any deadline for achieving this goal.

Providing details about postgraduate (PG) seats in medical colleges, he stated that there are 2,044 NMC (National Medical Commission) recognised PG degree (MD-3 years), 932 PG degree (MS-3 years), 124 PG super specialty (DM/MCh 3 years), and 39 PG diploma (2 years) seats available, totalling 3,139 seats.

The minister also mentioned that about 450 undergraduate seats and 1,011 postgraduate seats were applied for by various institutions with the NMC, for which the state govt has provided essentiality certificates. This marks the first time in Gujarat's medical history that such a large number of seats will be added simultaneously in the near future, the minister added.

Currently, there are a total of 41 medical colleges, including 6 govt, 13 run by the Gujarat Medical Education and Research Society, 3 corporation-run, 1 AIIMS, and 18 self-financed colleges.