Chandigarh: In a significant move aimed at strengthening medical education and healthcare services in the city, the Chandigarh administration has formally submitted a detailed proposal to the National Medical Commission (NMC), requesting an increase in the number of MBBS seats at Govt Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32. The proposal seeks to enhance intake from the existing 150 seats to 200. Officials said the comprehensive proposal was submitted after obtaining mandatory approval from Punjab governor and UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria, following several rounds of high-level discussions on the feasibility, requirement, and broader benefits of increasing medical seats.The proposal sent to the NMC — India’s apex regulatory authority for medical education — highlights the pressing need for more trained medical professionals in the region, especially as GMCH-32 continues to cater to a high patient load from Chandigarh and neighbouring states. The health department of Chandigarh administration also referenced the Supreme Court’s 2025 judgment mandating 27% reservation for the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category, a requirement that has significant implications for the current seat structure.According to officials, the health department explained to the central govt that the increase in MBBS seats was essential to ensure smooth compliance with the Supreme Court judgment in Dhruvi Yadav vs Union of India, delivered in July 2025. The ruling required the Chandigarh administration to introduce a 27% OBC quota in MBBS admissions. The administration stated that enhancement of seats from 150 to 200 would allow implementation of the mandated reservation “without much affecting general category seats,” thus balancing reservation norms with public expectations.The administration’s proposal emphasised the institutional ability of GMCH to absorb more students. In its communication to the ministry of health and family welfare, UT noted that increasing MBBS seats would lead to a larger number of interns, thereby strengthening emergency and patient care services. More interns would help manage rising patient load in GMCH, especially in emergency and trauma units. The administration stressed that this increase would eventually contribute to creating a larger pool of medical graduates eligible for PG programmes, helping address the problem of shortage of specialists in the wider healthcare system.The administration assured the central govt that GMCH had adequate faculty strength, infrastructure, and clinical material required for the proposed expansion. It stated that the hospital currently has 1,198 beds, including emergency and trauma beds, meeting the norms of the Medical Council of India. The letter also reiterated that an increase in seats was not only feasible but desirable in the public interest.In addition, the Chandigarh administration gave an undertaking that in the event the central govt halted fresh admissions for any reason, including infrastructure gaps, the state govt would assume responsibility for the students already admitted, subject to necessary permission from the Centre. The UT administration said this commitment reflected its readiness to ensure continuity of medical education under all circumstances.Meanwhile, discussions are also ongoing on increase in postgraduate (MD) seats at GMCH. According to officials, the proposal to increase around 50 MD seats is in its final stages. Deliberations are currently being held with Panjab University (PU), and once finalised, the proposal will be submitted for approval to the Administrator before being sent to the central govt. Sources indicated that the proposal for increasing MD seats is expected to be sent by the end of March.The UT administration highlighted that both proposals — MBBS and MD seat enhancement — are part of its broader effort to expand medical capacity, improve patient care, and create more advanced training opportunities for medical students in the region.Box:As per information, the process of increasing around 50 MD seats is in the final stage. “Currently, the issue is under discussion, and deliberations are on with Panjab University (PU). Once the matter to increase seats for MD is finalised, it will first be approved by the governor of Punjab and administrator of Chandigarh, Gulab Chand Kataria, and then sent to the central govt for approval,” an official said. As per information, the matter to increase MD seats is likely to be sent by the end of March.Box: UT’s proposal to the Centre — It is desirable and feasible to increase seats from 150 to 200 in MBBS in public interest — The institution has adequate faculty — The institution has 1,198 beds (including emergency and trauma) and adequate clinical material as per the Medical Council of India norms.— It is certified that if fresh admissions are stopped by the Central govt for any reason, including lack of infrastructure, the state govt shall take responsibility for students already admitted in the above-said course at this college — If Govt Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Chandigarh is granted permission to enhance MBBS seats to 200, it would be ensured that, by the time of the first and subsequent renewals of permissions, human resources and physical infrastructure of Govt Medical College, Chandigarh would be augmented in accordance with the requirements of NMC regulations MSID:: 129591009 413 |
