The government said on Thursday that 4,000 Post Graduate medical seats have been approved in different medical colleges and hospitals for the 2017-18 academic session. The government has termed the number a record in medical academics till date.

As of now, the total number of PG seats available in the country is 35,117.

“In a huge boost to medical education in the country, over 4,000 PG medical seats have been approved by the Government of India in various medical colleges and hospitals for the academic session 2017-18, taking the total number of PG seats available to 35,117,” said Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda.

According to the minister, this move would further help strengthen the tertiary health care and also improve the quality of medical education in the nation. The minister said that of all the increased seats, 2,046 seats are in medical colleges.

“Looking at the need to increase PG seats in clinical subjects, the Government had decided to amend the teacher student ratio in clinical subjects in government medical colleges. This change alone has resulted in the creation of 1,137 extra seats in 71 colleges,” said Nadda.

The minister said that of the 212 government colleges, many others(than the 71 colleges) are still sending in proposals. It’s expected that a minimum of 1,000 seats would be added in March 2017.

“This includes DNB (Diplomate of National Board) seats — which are equivalent to MD/MS — which have increased by 2,147 in the last one year,” said Nadda. The minister added that a total addition of 4,193 PG seats has been made in the country this far, adding that an addition of over a thousand seats is likely during March 2017.

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