HYDERABAD, JAN. 2
A recent notification by the National Medical Commission (NMC) inviting applications for new medical colleges has drawn sharp criticism from the medical community in Telangana.
Doctors argue that the unchecked expansion of medical colleges, coupled with an unrelenting increase in undergraduate seats, is jeopardising the quality of medical education and creating an oversaturated job market.
Dr Ranga Reddy Burri, a public health advisor, expressed concern over the dilution of medical education standards, while stating, “The relentless increase in medical seats and the unchecked growth of colleges are contributing to unemployment and an oversaturated job market. A more balanced, strategic approach prioritising quality over quantity is imperative to sustain the standards of the medical profession.”
Senior doctor Dr. Gopikrishna criticised the previous government for focusing on vote-bank politics at the expense of sustainable medical education.
He pointed out that India has surpassed the WHO’s recommended doctor-to-population ratio, with 680 people per doctor compared to the 1,000:1 benchmark. Despite repeated warnings, their voices were ignored, resulting in the current crisis, he said.
Dr. Ravi Naini said that the struggles faced by government medical colleges in recruiting qualified professors were due to inadequate salaries and limited promotional opportunities.
He added, “Private medical colleges manage with on-roll faculty, but this is not feasible for government institutions. There’s no point in opening colleges with just 50 MBBS seats when resources are better spent on institutions with 100-150 seats to improve tertiary care.”
The medical fraternity also criticised the NMC for relaxing norms to approve colleges, often influenced by political pressures. They called for a high-power committee to address irregularities and ensure sustainable policies for medical education.
Most doctors stressed the need to strengthen existing institutions by improving infrastructure, filling vacant teaching positions and investing in quality over quantity. They warned that adding more medical colleges without addressing these fundamental issues would erode the credibility of medical education and deter future generations from choosing medicine as a career.
