With the National Medical Commission (NMC) approving two new private medical colleges and expanding the number of MBBS seats at ESIC Medical College, Tamil Nadu’s medical education sector has seen growth. This will increase the state’s current seat matrix by 350 MBBS seats.

150 MBBS seats have been allowed for the Erode-based Nanda Medical College and Hospital. This medical college, which is associated with the TN Dr. MGR University, is managed by the Sri Nandha Educational Trust. Additionally, authorization has been obtained for 150 MBBS seats at the Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Institute of Medical Sciences and Hospital, which was founded under the Tamil Nadu Private University Act 2019 and is operated by the Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Trust.

In addition to these two colleges, the ESIC Medical College and Postgraduate Institute of Medical Science and Research in Chennai have also been given permission to boost their intake by 50 MBBS seats.

There are currently 74 medical schools in the state, with 11,575 MBBS seats available for admission. Of them, 38 are government medical colleges with a 5,225 MBBS seat admission capacity, and the remaining 34 are private medical institutions with a 6,000 MBBS seat intake capacity.

The State Selection Committee will handle both government and management quotas for admission to these medical colleges on the basis of merit as determined by NEET exam scores.

Although the state will benefit from the opening of new private medical schools, there won’t be any new government medical schools anytime soon. According to the State Directorate of Medical Education, no application has been made to increase the number of seats in current medical colleges, and it is still awaiting funding and approval to open six new medical colleges.

A positive development for Tamil Nadu’s medical education industry is the inclusion of new medical colleges and the growth in MBBS seats, which expands chances for future physicians and enhances the state’s residents’ access to healthcare.