Tamil Nadu to Add 460 PG Medical Seats in Govt Colleges by 2026

Quick Summary

• Tamil Nadu plans to introduce new postgraduate (PG) medical courses in 13 government medical colleges from the 2026-2027 academic year.
• 11 of these colleges were established in 2022, and Kalaignar centenary Super Speciality Hospital (KCSSH) will see an increase in its PG seats.
• A total of 460 new PG seats are proposed across specialties such as General Medicine, Pediatrics, General Surgery, Orthopedics, Radio diagnosis, and Anesthesiology.
• KCSSH currently offers 38 PG seats but is set to add 28 more across seven specialties including Nephrology and Cardiology.
• Permission has been granted to apply for approval from the National Medical Commission (NMC).
• concerns raised by some doctors about uneven distribution and misuse of PGs for staffing shortages rather than focusing solely on their training needs.

Indian Opinion Analysis
Tamil Nadu’s expansion of postgraduate medical courses reflects a strategic effort to meet growing healthcare demands while bolstering specialist training capacities within the state. The addition of nearly 460 seats could help bridge gaps in both healthcare workforce availability and access to specialized care in underserved regions where newer medical colleges have been established.Though, this initiative raises questions about institutional equity-as some older institutions with high patient loads were excluded-and potential ethical concerns over using postgraduate students as stand-ins for junior resident roles amidst doctor shortages. Ensuring proper allocation based on patient needs and maintaining professional norms will be key for long-term sustainability of these reforms.

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