Medical aspirants in the state risk losing an additional 500 MBBS seats in government colleges 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 `15 crore.

The Union health ministry has agreed to increase the seats in seven old government colleges, provided the state government provides the necessary infrastructure and facilities that will meet thenorms stipulated by the Medical Council of India (MCI) for enhancing the intake.
It even released `60 crore for the purpose. The state government has to release 25 per cent of its share, amounting to `15 crore, in order to utilise these funds.

Since it has not done so, the funds released by the Centre are lying unused for the last three months.Worse still, the state has the option of releasing its share of the funds only on paper, by issuing a GO, but even this was not done.Despite repeated reminders from the medical education department, the finance department has not agreed either to release the amount or to issue the GO, on the grounds that it has not received any instructions from the government to do so. Unless the government acts fast, the 500 MBBS seats will be lost as it will be difficult to create the necessary infrastructure and facilities by March 2012 when the MCI is scheduled to commence inspection of medical colleges to approve the additional intake.

“I have taken up the issue with the Chief Minister and the finance department several times.Unfortunately, nothing has happened. Even if they issued a GO saying that 25 per cent of matching grant is allotted by the state government, that will serve the purpose. But even this was not done,” admitted Mr D.L. Ravindra Reddy, the health minister. The Centre has agreed to provide funds to create additional infrastructure and facilities in Osmania Medical College, Gandhi Medical College, Andhra Medical College, Kurnool Medical College, S.V. Medical College, Kakatiya Medical College and Guntur Medical College.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.I have taken up the issue with the Chief Minister and the finance department several times. Unfortunately, nothing has happened.