Bengaluru: Karnataka had the highest number of MBBS seats in the country in 2023-24. In fact, the state had the same distinction even 11 years ago in 2013-14. However, Karnataka’s distinction as a pre-eminent medical hub drawing students from across the country may be under threat given the stupendous increase in the number of MBBS seats in north Indian states.
According to data from the health and family welfare ministry, 11,745 MBBS seats were up for grabs in 2023-24, an increase from 6,755 in 2013-14. Tamil Nadu with 6,215 seats in 2013-14 and 11,650 in 2023-24 was close a second to Karnataka.
However, Tamil Nadu had the highest number of medical colleges in 2023-24 at 74 and is the second highest in 2013-14 at 45. Karnataka, which had the highest number (46) of medical colleges in the country in 2013-14, was second (70 colleges) 11 years later.
Though south Indian states account for more than a third of the seats in the country at 39.4 per cent, their northern counterparts are seeing phenomenal growth. Uttar Pradesh, for instance, which had about 200 seats in 2013-14, now has 9,903, and tops the growth chart with a whopping 4851 per cent increase. States such as Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan too commanded a growth of more than 200 per cent.
The growth rate of medical seats in UP dwarfs that of Karnataka (73.8 per cent) and Tamil Nadu (87.4 per cent). In fact, bigger and populous states are likely to get more seats given the move, now put on hold for a year, by the National Medical Commission to link sanctioning of new colleges and seats to the population of the state concerned. “There might be some effect, especially with respect to private colleges, where 60 per cent seats are open even to students from outside Karnataka. However, established private colleges will be a top choice for students from across the country and Karnataka has several of them. New colleges may be hit in the process. But there is also the possibility of less preferred colleges reducing their fee, to attract students,” said Dr Ravindranath KS, former vice-chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS).’There are 48 private and 22 government medical colleges in Karnataka.
Experts also point out that the race to start new medical colleges by the states is to ensure that the benefits do percolate down to districts where healthcare infrastructure is poor.
Dr Chandrashekar Shetty, former vice-chancellor of RGUHS, told TOI: “There is also this understanding that institutes in backward districts will help percolate the doctors in those areas, but that is not happening over the years.” He cautioned against increasing medical education infrastructure in different districts without staff and proper clinical material.
Under a centrally sponsored scheme announced in 2018, the ministry of health and family welfare said it is looking to establish new medical colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals in underserved areas of the country. UP has got about 27 medical colleges in the list. “Karnataka got 18,”said Dr S Sacchidanand, former VC of RGUHS.
According to him, the attempts to increase the number of doctors will reach a saturation point in the years to come, with the country on the verge of reaching 1:750 doctor-patient ratio.
