DKS says Karnataka in need of doctors, seeks 50% quota in deemed universities

Bengaluru, Jun 21: Karnataka’s Medical Education Minister D K Shivakumar has decided to write to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to reserve 50% of the total seats in deemed universities for students from the state.

Speaking to media persons after a meeting with representatives from deemed universities, Shivakumar said enrolment of students from Karnataka was very low, and that students from other States join deemed universities through the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test scores. Nine institutions from eight deemed universities have around 1,630 MBBS seats and 640 dental seats.

Shivakumar also said this was an attempt by the State government to ensure there was no shortage of doctors in Karnataka.

“Most of these students from other States study here in deemed universities and return to their States. The State is in need of doctors and we are drawing up a master plan to give a boost to health tourism in Karnataka,” he said.

S. Kumar, secretary of Consortium of Deemed Universities in Karnataka, said while they were not averse to the idea of allocating a percentage of seats for Karnataka students, they were keen that the counselling process be conducted by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

“Deemed universities would be more than willing to ensure that Karnataka students are allotted seats if the University Grants Commission and the DGHS pass an order in this regard,” said Mr. Kumar.

He added that although they entered into an MoU in the 2017-18 academic year for postgraduate seats and decided to part with 25% of their seats to Karnataka students at a concessional fee of Rs. 6 lakh for clinical degrees, the Supreme Court had said that they (deemed universities) need to maintain the “all India” character.