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Vijayawada: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has granted approval for a total of 750 MBBS seats across five newly inaugurated government medical colleges in Andhra Pradesh for the 2023-2024 academic year. In a significant move for medical aspirants in the state, each of the colleges has received permission to admit 150 students, despite a number of ongoing faculty vacancies.
Renewal Amid Faculty Shortages
While acknowledging “certain deficiencies,” particularly unfilled teaching positions, the NMC has opted to renew the full quota of MBBS seats for these institutions. The regulatory body has, however, instructed the state government to urgently address faculty shortages. Reports indicate that 15–20% of posts at the assistant, associate, and professor ranks remain vacant, with approximately 25–30 professor posts unfilled against the total requirement of 114 across Andhra Pradesh’s 14 government-run medical colleges.
The NMC has warned that further delays in filling these vacancies—including crucial paramedical staff—could result in reduced student intake quotas in the future.
Government Response: Relaxed Promotion Rules and Contract Hiring
To fast-track recruitment and adhere to NMC standards, the Andhra Pradesh government has temporarily relaxed promotion criteria. The mandatory service period as an Associate Professor required for promotion to Professor has been reduced from three years to one year. The government aims to prioritize internal promotions for existing government doctors before turning to direct contractual recruitment. This approach comes after objections from the state doctors’ association, who expressed concern that contractual hiring could impact existing employees’ promotion prospects.
Recruitment Delays and Postponements
In response to appeals from the Andhra Pradesh Government Doctors Association (APGDA), planned recruitments for associate and professor posts on a contractual basis—scheduled for July 17—have been postponed. The government has promised current in-service doctors top priority in ongoing recruitment efforts.
No New Colleges Sought Since Political Change
In a notable development, Andhra Pradesh has not applied for new medical college permissions for a second consecutive year since the transition of power to the NDA government. Additionally, despite prior NMC clearance, the government did not start classes at the Government Medical College in Pulivendula last year and failed to seek fresh permissions this year. Local social activists have voiced concerns that this is a setback for students, urging the government to put political differences aside and prioritize education infrastructure.
Disclaimer
This article is intended for informational purposes only and is based on publicly available material as reported by Medical Dialogues. For the most up-to-date information or official guidance, please refer to statements from the National Medical Commission or Andhra Pradesh Government.
