3 New Medical Colleges to Provide 450 More Seats

With the establishment of 3 new Government colleges, Karnataka is now ready to offer 450 more medical seats under the Government quota. These medical colleges will be opened at Chamarajanagar, Karwar and Madikeri (Kodagu) and would admit 150 students each. The colleges have completed their inspection formalities and have been approved by the Medical Council of India. started colleges in Hassan, Mandya, Shivamogga, Bidar, Raichur and Belagavi.

“Six new medical colleges were to be added in 2015-16 but because of some infrastructure issues, the MCI did not give its approval. We started only three, in Kalaburagi, Gadag and Koppal. The other three will become functional in 2016-17,” explained Dr S S Harasoor, Director of the Medical Education Department.

Dr S S Harasoor, Director of the Medical Education Department, said, “The buildings, staff and the infrastructure are ready and each college will admit 150 students.” The total number of government medical colleges in the state has gone up to 16 and the seats have steadily gone up too. The older colleges are located in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Hubballi and Ballari. Six years ago, the government started colleges in Hassan, Mandya, Shivamogga, Bidar, Raichur and Belagavi. In 2013, 2,215 seats were available under the Government quota. In 2014, 2,387 seats were available, in 2015, 2,489 were available and for the year 2016 , 2,939 medical seats are anticipated under the government quota.

But according to a source at the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), all 2,939 seats may not be open. “Last year, though we had three new medical colleges and additional seats, we lost 1,250 seats in the first round of counselling after the MCI refused to renew recognition of 10 colleges,” an official said.