The fate of several PCB/PCMB (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology) students was hanging in balance when admissions to MBBS degree course was restricted to 100 seats pending Medical Council of India’s (MCI) notification confirming 150 seats in the academic year starting from September 1, 2015.
GMC finally received the written approval for the 50 provisional seats from the Medical Council of India (MCI) and Ministry for Health and Family Welfare. In the letter to the Dean of the college, the ministry has granted renewal of permission for admission of the fourth batch of MBBS students in the increased intake from 100 to 150 for the 2015-16 academic session.
The permission is valid only for the 2015-16 academic session, while the next batch would require permissions before the 2016-17 session begins.
Sources said that GMC Dean Pradeep Naik has sent an official communiqué to the DTE officials informing that MCI has sanctioned 50 provisional seats for the third consecutive year.
“We received the letter (from GMC) today (Tuesday) confirming a total 150 seats at GMC. The DTE had restricted the first round of admission to 100 seats leaving the remaining 50 vacant pending an official communication,” an official said. “The second round will fill up the balance seats.”
When admissions began in June, MCI allowed only 100 seats to be filled after its inspection team found the required infrastructure to be improved on eight parameters had not been completed.
The main requirements, a lecture room, an auditorium for students and three new classrooms to accommodate the batches with increased capacity, were under-construction when the team visited.
GMC officials then assured to meet the requirements only after which MCI granted verbal permission. “We were assured for 150 seats but an official letter was awaited. The letter has come as relief,” he said.
Speaking to the media, Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minster Francis D’Souza said students could be assured that the 50 additional seats would be provided to them. D’Souza said the added infrastructure to the college was well on course adding that three lecture halls and a girls’ hostel would be completed by July 31.
“We’ve already completed 85 percent of the lecture halls and 90 percent of the girls’ hostel. Both will be handed over to the college on July 31st well in time for the academic year that begins on September 1, 2015,” he said.
