In a major boost for medical education and healthcare in Tamil Nadu, the State government has announced plans to add 460 new postgraduate (PG) medical seats across 13 government medical colleges by the 2026-27 academic year. The move is part of a wider effort to enhance the state’s medical infrastructure, address the growing patient load, and expand opportunities for aspiring doctors. However, the decision has also sparked concerns among sections of government doctors, who feel the expansion could have been better distributed and are worried about the misuse of PG students as replacements for essential resident posts.

Significant Expansion Across New Medical Colleges

According to an official order, Tamil Nadu has granted permission to launch new PG courses in these 13 government medical colleges and to increase PG seats in existing programmes at the Kalaignar Centenary Super Speciality Hospital (KCSSH), which is attached to the Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital. The Essentiality Certificate has been issued, and the Director of Medical Education and Research has been authorised to apply for approvals from the National Medical Commission (NMC).

Of the 13 colleges identified for the expansion, 11 were established in 2022, while Pudukottai and Karur medical colleges are also included. The new seats will be spread across various government colleges in Pudukottai, Karur, Ramanathapuram, Tiruppur, Tiruvallur, Namakkal, Virudhunagar, Nilgiris, Kallakurichi, Dindigul, Nagapattinam, Ariyalur, and Krishnagiri.

KCSSH, which currently offers 38 PG seats, is set to receive an additional 28 seats across seven specialties, including Nephrology, Urology, Medical Gastroenterology, Surgical Gastroenterology, Cardiology, Anaesthesiology, and Radiology. The courses proposed in the 13 colleges will include MD in General Medicine, Paediatrics, General Surgery, Orthopaedics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Radio Diagnosis, and Anaesthesiology, among others.

Doctors Express Mixed Reactions

While the move is expected to increase the availability of specialist doctors in government hospitals across Tamil Nadu and improve healthcare access, some government doctors have raised concerns over the implementation. A doctor from the Government Omandurar Medical College, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed disappointment that their institution and the Tamil Nadu Government Multi Super Speciality Hospital in Omandurar Estate were not included in the expansion plan. The doctor noted that based on the patient load, many specialties at their institution required more PG seats, but these needs were overlooked in the new distribution.

Additionally, A. Ramalingam, General Secretary of the Service Doctors and Postgraduates Association, stated that while the increase in PG seats is a welcome step, it should not replace essential posts of junior and senior residents. According to NMC norms, junior and senior residents play a crucial role in patient care, and using PG students to fill these roles due to the prevailing shortage of doctors could compromise both patient care and the learning experience of PG students.

He emphasised that while the expansion of PG seats addresses one part of the healthcare manpower challenge, it should not lead to a situation where PG students are overburdened with service responsibilities at the cost of their academic and clinical training. Ramalingam urged the State to consider increasing sanctioned posts for residents parallelly to strengthen healthcare delivery while maintaining the quality of medical education.

A Step Towards Strengthening Tamil Nadu’s Medical Ecosystem

The addition of 460 PG seats is part of the Tamil Nadu government’s larger vision to scale up healthcare services, provide better access to specialised care in districts, and enhance training opportunities for medical graduates. By utilising the recently established government medical colleges, the State aims to ensure a wider distribution of specialist doctors, especially in regions that require a greater healthcare workforce to manage patient inflow.

The move aligns with Tamil Nadu’s consistent efforts to improve healthcare delivery, supported by investments in medical education and hospital infrastructure. As the State awaits approvals from the NMC, the proposed expansion is seen as a significant step towards addressing the long-term need for specialists while creating opportunities for medical graduates to pursue higher studies within the State.

The coming years will reveal how effectively these additional seats translate into improved healthcare services and specialist availability across Tamil Nadu. For now, the announcement signals the State’s intent to invest in its healthcare ecosystem, balancing aspirations of young doctors with the healthcare needs of its growing population.

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