MBBS Seats At GMCH May Increase By 50

To further strengthen medical education and healthcare services in the city, the Chandigarh Administration has submitted a detailed proposal to the National Medical Commission (NMC), requesting an increase in the number of MBBS seats at the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) located in Sector 32. The proposal requests that the number of MBBS seats at the college be increased from the current count of 150 to 200. According to the Administration, if the NMC approves this proposal, more students will gain the opportunity to pursue medical education, and the hospital’s enhanced capacity will enable the provision of better healthcare services to patients.

This initiative is part of a broader strategy to bolster the city’s healthcare infrastructure and ensure access to quality medical services for the public. Furthermore, in May of last year, the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI) also received approval to establish a new 100-bed MBBS medical college in Sarangpur. Officials stated that extensive high-level discussions were held prior to formulating this proposal. These discussions focused on assessing the necessity of increasing seats, the potential benefits such an expansion would yield, and the feasibility of its implementation. Prior to the submission of the proposal, approval was also obtained from Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria. The proposal further highlights that GMCH-32 caters to a massive influx of patients from Chandigarh and neighboring states; consequently, there is a dire need for more trained doctors in the region.

Additionally, the Health Department cited a 2025 Supreme Court verdict mandating a 27% reservation quota for Other Backward Classes (OBC). As this ruling has a direct bearing on the current seat matrix, the necessity to increase the number of seats has become even more critical. Officials noted that increasing the seat count from 150 to 200 would minimize the impact on the General Category seats while implementing the reservation quotas, thereby maintaining a balance between reservation regulations and public expectations. The administration also clarified that GMCH possesses the institutional capacity to accommodate a larger number of students. The hospital houses a total of 1,198 beds including those in the Emergency and Trauma units and maintains adequate clinical material in accordance with the standards set by the MCI (Medical Council of India).

In a letter addressed to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, it was stated that an increase in the number of seats would result in the training of a greater number of interns, thereby further strengthening emergency and patient care services. The presence of more interns would facilitate better management of the hospital’s growing patient load, particularly within the Emergency and Trauma units. The administration further noted that this expansion would ultimately enable more medical graduates to qualify for postgraduate (PG) programs, thereby helping to address the shortage of specialists within the broader healthcare system.

Meanwhile, there is also a proposal to increase the number of postgraduate (MD) seats at GMCH. According to officials, a proposal to add approximately 50 MD seats is currently in its final stages. This proposal is presently under consideration by Panjab University. Once finalized, it will first be submitted to the UT Administrator for approval, and subsequently forwarded to the Central Government for its sanction.

According to sources, the proposal to increase MD seats is expected to be submitted to the NMC by the end of March. Officials explained that this expansion of both MBBS and MD seats is part of a broader initiative by the Chandigarh Administration aimed at enhancing medical capacity in the region, improving patient care, and providing advanced training opportunities for medical students. The administration also clarified that should GMCH receive permission to increase its MBBS intake to 200 seats, the institute’s human resources and physical infrastructure would be correspondingly augmented in strict adherence to NMC regulations during the renewal stages of both initial and subsequent permissions, thereby ensuring full and seamless compliance with all regulatory norms.