With the state government deciding to upgrade five districts hospitals to medical colleges, 500 additional seats are likely to be created for MBBS aspirants from the next academic year (2018-19). After the addition, the number of seats will go up to 2,700.

Hundred seats each will be created in five district hospitals in Basti, Faizabad, Firozabad, Shahjhanpur and Bahraich. The process is likely to be completed by early next year.

Currently, there are 17 government medical colleges in the state which offer 2,199 MBBS seats. The government eventually plans to upgrade 12 districts hospitals and work on that will start after the current project is over.

Rs 180 crore have been sanctioned by the government for upgrading each of the five district hospitals and 70 per cent of the amount will be paid by the central government.

Also, construction of two new medical colleges in Badaun and Jaunpur is currently underway. Two new medical colleges are also proposed in Chandauli and Najibabad in Bijnor. All these colleges will have to seek affiliation from King George’s Medical University in Lucknow.