950 more medical seats for AP

• 650 in govt and 300 in private medical colleges
• Counselling for MBBS seats from August 5

Vijayawada: Health Minister Dr Kamineni Srinivas Rao announced here on Sunday that counseling for MBBS seats will start from August 5. In light of the added medical seats to Andhra Pradesh, there is a better scope for more students, he added. Talking to the media at BJP State office, he said 650 government seats and 300 private seats were sanctioned to the State this year. Among the private seats, 150 were under the convener quota.

For girls, 150 exclusive seats were allotted to the Padmavati Medical College. Another 150 seats were allotted to the Nellore Medical College which will function from this academic year.

He said 100 and 150 seats were sanctioned to the Ongole and Kurnool colleges respectively. Around 200 seats were sanctioned to colleges in Tirupati, Guntur, Pinnamaneni Siddhartha and KGH.

The minister stated that the government was planning to accommodate requests pertaining to medical and health benefits of students and public.

He said the State would concentrate on checking the maternal and infant deaths. Special amenities would be provided in maternity wings and guidelines issued to the staff accordingly.

The government was looking for appropriate place to construct the medical university. A super-specialty wing worth Rs 125 crore would be set up in the Siddhartha Medical College compound. The Ayurvedic College would be renovated with all amenities.

The government was negotiating with the National Health Mission to fund the Ayush programme, Dr Rao stated.