Nod sought for additional 800 MBBS seats this year: TN Health Minister

Ma. Subramanian, Tamil Nadu’s Health Minister, said the state government has applied to the Medical Council of India (MCI) for permission to add 800 more MBBS seats this year. The Minister told reporters on Saturday that the MCI has already granted permission to accept 850 students in the MBBS course at seven new medical schools in the State after examining construction work on the new Government Medical College in the district.

“We have sought permission to add 800 more seats this year. Of the 800 seats, 600 are being sought for four new medical colleges in Nagapattinam, Ariyalur, Dindigul, and Krishnagiri. We have requested to increase the intake at Ramanathapuram, Namakkal, Tiruppur, and Thiruvallur by 50 seats each taking the total to 200 seats. We will be meeting the Union Health Minister and others on October 27 in this regard,” he said.

Stating that the ‘Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam’ scheme (healthcare at the doorstep of people) has benefited 25 lakh, people, he said, “We are targeting to offer treatment to one crore people under the scheme this year.” The Minister said the government has taken steps to renovate buildings of primary health centres. Earlier, he held a meeting with Collector Dr. Arun Thamburaj on the Covid-19 situation in the district.