PANAJI: The Medical Council of India (MCI) has communicated its permission to the state government to increase the number of seats for the MBBS course being conducted at the Goa Medical College (GMC) from the existing 100 to 150.

The Health Minister, Mr Laxmikant Parsekar confirming the news said that he had requested the Union Health Minister, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad to allow the GMC admit 150 students from the current academic year itself, and he had received the go ahead signal.

The state government has already started upgrading the infrastructure at the GMC for accommodating the additional students in the state’s only medical college.

Speaking further, Mr Parsekar said that Goans will benefit from the increase in the MBBS seats. He also observed that the intelligent students from Goa need not go to other states in search of medical seats.

It may be recalled that the state government, a few months ago had submitted a proposal for increasing the MBBS seats as several Goan students were denied the opportunity due to which they would either take admissions in dentistry or private medical colleges outside the state. Subsequently, the MCI members inspected the premise and other requirements for the enhancement of the seats, after which it granted permission.

Out of the existing 100 seats at the Goa Medical College, 15 are reserved under the all India quota, while remaining 85 are left for Goan students.