Deemed‑university conversions jeopardize affordable MBBS seats in Tamil Nadu

Chennai – The Pattali Makkal Katchi has sounded an alarm over what it describes as a systematic erosion of government‑quota MBBS seats in Tamil Nadu. The party alleges that the recent designation of six private medical colleges as deemed‑to‑be universities will eliminate about 700 seats that were previously reserved for students from poorer backgrounds.

Three institutions – St. Peter’s Medical College, Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Medical College and Srinivasan Medical College in Chennai – have already been granted deemed status, resulting in the loss of roughly 350 quota seats. Three more colleges, including Karapaga Vinayaga Medical College in Madurantakam, are expected to receive the same status, potentially wiping out another 350 seats.

The state’s total MBBS capacity stands at around 13,000 seats, comprising 5,050 seats in 36 government colleges, 3,900 in 22 private colleges, 850 in five private universities, 3,050 in deemed universities and 150 in a central government institute. Seats under the government quota in private colleges are allocated through NEET‑based counseling.

Dr. Ambumani Ramdas highlighted that quota students presently pay INR 4.35‑5.40 lakh per year in tuition. If the colleges become deemed universities, fees could surge to INR 23‑30 lakh annually, effectively pricing out many aspirants.

The PMK questioned the legitimacy of granting deemed status without securing a No‑Objection Certificate from the Dr. MGR Medical University. It has demanded the immediate creation of government medical colleges in Kanchipuram, Ranipet, Tirupattur, Mayiladuthurai, Thenkasi and Perambalur, and an increase of 50 seats in each of the 16 government colleges that currently admit only a hundred students.