Hyderabad: In a significant development, the Telangana Government on Wednesday granted permission for the establishment of government medical colleges in eight additional districts.
This decision sets a remarkable milestone, as Telangana will become the first state in the country to have government medical colleges in all its districts. The new medical colleges will be located in Jogulamba Gadwal, Narayanpet, Mulug, Warangal, Medak, Yadadri Bhongir, Rangareddy, and Medchal Malkajgiri districts. Starting next year, each college will commence classes with 100 MBBS seats, totalling an additional 800 seats. With this development, the state will reach its goal of having at least one medical college in every district, taking the total count of government medical colleges in Telangana to 34.
“This achievement is a result of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s persistent efforts to address the inadequate medical facilities and the loss of lives due to lack of timely medical treatment. Recognizing the hardships faced by patients, especially in remote areas, and the limited access to medical education, CM KCR initiated the decentralization of medical services after the formation of Telangana. Over the past nine years, the government has successfully established 29 medical colleges, in addition to the existing five colleges before the formation of the state,” Health Minister T. Harish Rao said in a media statement on Wednesday.
The establishment of these medical colleges has significantly increased the number of MBBS seats in the state. In 2014, there were 850 seats in government colleges, which has now risen to 3,790 seats. The eight new medical colleges will add another 800 seats, bringing the total count to 4,590 seats in government medical colleges. When combined with private medical colleges, the total number of medical colleges in the state has increased from 20 before 2014 to 56 this year, with the number of MBBS seats quadrupling from 2,850 to 8,340. Including the new seats from the upcoming medical colleges, the count will reach 9,140 seats. Furthermore, additional seats will be available through private medical colleges in the coming years, leading to a total of 10,000 MBBS seats in Telangana.
Harish Rao said that Telangana’s focus on improving medical education has made the dream of becoming a doctor more accessible to its students. Previously, students had to face the challenges of studying medicine in foreign countries, enduring language barriers and hardships. However, with the establishment of numerous medical colleges within the state, students can now pursue their medical education close to home. To further support Telangana students, the Health Minister said that the State government has reserved 100 per cent of the MBBS seats in the Competitive Authority quota for them, along with introducing local reservations, ensuring that 85 per cent of the B category seats are allocated to Telangana students. These measures provide ample opportunities for students aspiring to become doctors while remaining in the state.
Minister Harish Rao expressed gratitude to CM KCR for his commitment to healthcare and medical education in Telangana. He praised CM KCR’s efforts in making speciality medical services available to the underprivileged and ensuring access to medical education for students. With the establishment of medical colleges in remote districts and the introduction of local reservations, the state has become a role model for healthcare reform. Minister Harish Rao congratulated the medical department for its tireless efforts in achieving these milestones. (INN)