Govt Defers MBBS Seats Capping For Next Two Years: Nadda
The National Medical Commission (NMC) decision to cap MBBS seats has been deferred for the next two academic years, 2024-25 and 2025-26. The Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda told the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, while briefing about the concerns raised by many states with good health indices.
The Health Minister responded to a question about whether the government has decided upon the NMC’s directive to cap MBBS seats at 100 per 10 lakh population in a State. The concerns were raised by States that the decision will adversely impact the southern states, including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh, which have already exceeded this ratio.
Nadda said that the NMC is the apex statutory body constituted by an Act of Parliament, entrusted with the responsibility of regulating and overseeing medical education and practice across the country.
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NMC amended its guidelines regarding permission for starting a new medical college or increasing MBBS undergraduate medical seats in existing medical colleges.
As per the amendment, permission shall be given only for 50/100/150 MBBS seats, provided that the medical college follows the ratio of 100 MBBS seats per 10 lakh population in that particular state or union territory. States that already have more than the above number will not be allowed to increase the number of MBBS seats in existing colleges or start new medical colleges.
This change in the guideline has led to a huge uproar from the medical community, a few states, and health activists and health advisors in the country.
The decision was taken primarily for states that are lagging behind in terms of providing healthcare by giving them more funds and promoting the distribution of doctors in low-performing states.
However, it was argued that respective states should have the autonomy to determine the number of doctors as it closely relates to their public health and health index.
This move by the NMC was construed as an infringement of the autonomy of state governments, penalising those who have made substantial investments in their public health infrastructure over time, instead of rewarding them.
