The Medical Council of India (MCI) has approved the establishment of two new medical colleges in Maharashtra for the academic year 2015. They are Vithalrao Joshi's Medical College in Ratnagiri and Dr R N Cooper General Hospital and Medical College in Mumbai. MCI has also given approval to Dr Ulhas Patil Medical College and Hospital in Jalgaon to increase the number of seats from 150 to 200.
Dr R N Cooper General Hospital and Medical College is the fourth civic-run medical college in Mumbai established after 51 years. The last established civic medical college in Mumbai was Sion Hospital in 1964. Previously there were only three civic-run medical colleges in Mumbai - Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College run along with KEM Hospital in Parel, Lokmanya Tilak Medical College run along with Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital in Sion and Topiwala Medical National College run along with Nair Hospital in Mumbai Central.
Dr Ramesh Mahanand Chaturvedi, dean of Dr R N Cooper General Hospital and Medical College says, “It's after 51 years, we are starting another government medical college in Mumbai. Previously there were only three-- KEM Hospital, Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Hospital and Nair Hospital. The college is located in western suburb of Mumbai which is another plus point because none of the government colleges was located in western suburb. We already have 124 students enrolled out of 150. I just aim to make this college the best one.”
Vithalrao Joshi's Medical College in Ratnagiri with the availability of 100 seats is established for the year 2015. The college will be run by Shri Vithalrao Joshi Charities Trust to provide modern medical services to the rural population. Medical students trained from this college are expected to offer their services to the local communities.
Students will get an opportunity to carry forward the research already going on at B.K.L.Walawalkar Hospital. Thus the main objectives of the rural medical college would be to achieve academic growth, provide good doctors in rural areas who in turn would serve the rural population, give an impetus to research and thus achieve overall upliftment of the society as a whole.
Overall, 14 new medical colleges have been approved by MCI across India for academic year 2015-2016. Out of 14, 3 new colleges have been established in Uttar Pradesh, 3 in Karnataka, 2 in Gujarat, 2 in Maharashtra, and one each in Andra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Andaman and Nicobar Island. There are 6 colleges which have also received approval for increasing the number of seats.