2008 onwards, the number of medical seats in the state of Tamilnadu will go up by 550 reports the Times of India. The increased seats will come from the Dharmapuri Medical College, which is set to be added to the list of government medical colleges, and also a private college opening in Melmaruvathur. Together, they will account for 250 seats. The remaining 300 will be shared equally by two new deemed universities.

Meanwhile, admissions for the 14 government and four private medical colleges attached to the TN Dr MGR Medical University will begin in July. With no common entrance test (CET) for admission to medical courses, the selection committee attached to the Directorate of Medical Education will admit students solely on the marks obtained in Plus Two examinations and on the basis of reservation.

The merit list will be published on June 28 and the first phase of counselling will begin on July 4. The application forms can be picked before June 17 on payment of demand draft for Rs 500 drawn in favour of the Secretary, Selection Committee, Chennai-10. See Tamilnadu MBBS / BDS Admission Notification 2008

The committee would control 85% of the seats in 14 medical colleges and 50-60% of seats in private colleges for allotment through the single window system. "The government medical colleges have 1398 medical seats in government colleges after it surrenders 15% to the all India quota and 291 seats in private colleges which will be filled up based on merit," said an official at the selection committee.

The selection committee will also write letters to all private medical colleges affiliated to the MGR University asking private colleges to surrender medical seats that fall under the government quota. "We have issued showcause notices to six pharma and nursing college who did not surrender seats under the government quota. We want to avoid confusions with medical colleges," the official added.

The health department has threatened to de-affiliate colleges that do not surrender the government quota for the single window admission system. With abolition of improvement examinations, those who had secured higher marks in class 12 examinations in the previous years can also appear before the selection committee for admissions..

The fees structure for the medical colleges will continue to remain the same until the Balasubramaniam Committee comes up with the new tariff. "We have also asked colleges to charge students as per the Raman Committee recommendations. They can collect the remaining amount, if any, after the committee comes up with the revised fee," said health secretary V K Subburaj. Usually, the fees in medical colleges across the state range between Rs 1.2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh, depending on the college.