400+ MBBS seats find no takers even after special vacancy round

400+ MBBS seats find no takers even after special vacancy round NEW DELHI: As many as 411 MBBS seats remained unallotted even after the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) conducted a special stray vacancy round, with the high fee structure in private medical colleges potentially being one of the factors behind the seats remaining unfilled. Of the 948 vacant MBBS seats included in the special round's seat matrix, only 537 were allotted, leaving 411 unfilled. These vacancies raise questions about the affordability of medical education, particularly in private colleges where fees can run into lakhs of rupees. High costs may have deterred some NEET-qualified candidates from opting for these seats, although the allotment data does not establish the reasons for individual choices.A health ministry official said last year, only around 60-70 MBBS seats had remained vacant. "SC had directed us to conduct four rounds of counselling, but we conducted a fifth round as well. Despite that, more than 400 seats remain without allotments.""In many institutions, fees that were around at Rs 15 lakh have increased to Rs 25 lakh to Rs 30 lakh. Govt medical college seats and those in reputed private institutions are getting filled. Vacancies are concentrated in some private colleges. These institutions need to review their fees structures and the quality of education and infrastructure they offer. If fees remain this high, increasing the number of seats will serve little purpose as students can't afford them," the official said. Anuja Jaiswal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India, with an impressive 18-year career in narrative journalism. She specializes in health and heritage reporting, expertly simplifying complex health information to make it engaging and understandable for readers. Her deep dives into heritage topics are well-researched, resulting in captivating narratives that resonate with her audience. Over the years, she has worked in Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh and West UP, gaining diverse on-ground experience that shapes her storytelling.