Andhra Pradesh faces risk of losing 500 MBBS seats and 300 post graduate medical seats granted by the Centre for the coming academic year 2012-13 because the state government has neglected to release its share of the funds amounting to Rs 17.5 crore.
The Union health ministry has agreed to increase the seats in seven old government colleges, namely, Osmania Medical College, Gandhi Medical College, Andhra Medical College, Kurnool Medical College, S.V. Medical College, Kakatiya Medical College and Guntur Medical College, provided the state government provides the necessary infrastructure and facilities that will meet the norms stipulated by the Medical Council of India (MCI) for enhancing the intake.
Though the Central government has already released Rs 70 crore for the purpose but the state government which has to release 25 per cent of its share, amounting to Rs 17.5 crore, has not released the same. If the state government does not release the fund before November 17 it will have to return the funds issued by the centre as they are lying unused.
Unless the government acts fast, the 500 MBBS seats and 300 postgraduate medical seats will be lost. At present, there are nearly 4,500 MBBS seats available in 14 government and 23 private medical colleges in the state, while over 60,000 students qualify in Eamcet medical entrance tests every year and vie for MBBS seats.
Siasat news