The Bihar government would approach the Medical Council of India this week to enhance the capacity of the state-run health cradles to plug the brain drain.

The health department has decided to send a proposal to the Medical Council of India (MCI) for increasing the MBBS seats in five state-run medical colleges, including Patna Medical College and Hospital, Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital, Shri Krishna Medical College and Hospital, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital and Anugrah Narayan Medical College and Hospital.

At present, the eight state-run colleges can accommodate 640 MBBS students. If the MCI approves the proposal of the state health department, the numbers of MBBS seats would go by 210. (See chart)

Vyasji, the principal secretary of the health department, told The Telegraph: “We will send the proposal to the MCI before July 24.”

R.P. Ojha, additional secretary, health department, said: “We had received a notification from the MCI, directing us to send any proposal regarding the seats (if any) within July 24.” The state government’s proposal to increase the MBBS seats in the medical colleges would help plug the brain drain.

Divyanka (22), a medical aspirant, said: “Given an opportunity, I would like to study in a state-run college. Studying in a private college outside the state means extra expenses.”

Medical experts believe the government would have to work hard to improve the infrastructure of the institutions. Dr Sunil Singh, the vice-president of the state branch of Indian Medical Association (IMA), said: “The road ahead will be not be smooth. It was only after chief minister Nitish Kumar’s intervention that the MCI allowed the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences to admit students in the MBBS course and permitted Bettiah Medical College to launch MBBS course. ”

Dr Rajiv Ranjan Prasad, president, state branch of IMA, said: “The aim of the medical colleges is not only to produce doctors but to produce quality doctors. So, the state government should first think about recruiting teachers.”