To overcome the shortage of teachers in medical colleges, the Medical Council of India (MCI) has increased the professor-student ratio from 1:2 to 1:3 for post graduate (PG) courses in all medical colleges from the 2018-19 academic session.

For assistant professors, the teacher-student ratio has been raised to 1:2 from the earlier 1:1.

“Last year, the teacher-student ratio was increased in government medical colleges, but from this academic session, all medical colleges can assign three students per professor at the PG level,” said Dr Reena Nayyar, secretary, Medical Council of India (MCI).

Last month, the MCI had also relaxed the norms for medical colleges applying for increase in post graduate seats to fast-track approvals, which can take up to four to five years.

Colleges running for at least 15 years with a post graduate programme for 10 years, and have had their post graduate licence valid for five years renewed at least once, can apply for increasing seats.

“Under the new criteria, we have waived off the time colleges take to secure approval for starting a PG course. From now onwards, we will consider 10 years from the day a particular college has applied for starting the course,” said Dr Reena Nayyar.

“The move could save the colleges at least a couple of years because granting approval is a long-drawn process and can sometimes take years. The inspection part, however, is non-negotiable,” says Nayyar, referring to the physical verification of faculty, senior resident doctors, clinical material and infrastructure done by the Medical Council of India before granting licence.

In March, the Union cabinet allocated Rs 14,930.92 crore for 2019-20 to increase undergraduate and post graduate seats by 18,058 in government and private medical colleges in a phased manner.

It also approved setting up of 24 new medical colleges in underserved areas, along with 248 nursing and midwifery schools.

First Published: Aug 18, 2018 00:01 IST

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