Hyderabad: With the number of medical colleges and undergraduate seats increasing in Telangana, the issue of inadequate infrastructure in these institutions has once again come to the fore, especially after the student protest at the Asifabad Govt medical college regarding shortage in faculty, medical equipments and hospital staff.
Telangana Govt Doctors Association raised concerns about the unchecked expansion of medical colleges and the pressure it is putting on the state’s healthcare system.
Experts have pointed to the challenges posed by the liberal granting of permissions by the National Medical Commission (NMC) without ensuring adequate regulatory checks. The NMC has relaxed norms to accommodate political interests rather than those of health professionals, undermining the quality of education and facilities offered, experts say.
“Govt expenditure on setting up smaller medical colleges with limited seats, such as those with only 50 MBBS seats, is inefficient. Substantial investment in infrastructure and faculty development is required for medical colleges with 100-150 seats,” said Dr Praveen Palapu of TGDA, adding that such an approach would not only better equip medical colleges to impart quality education but also improve tertiary healthcare services to the public.
To address these challenges, doctors and professionals have urged govt to reassess expansion strategies and consult stakeholders.
