Mumbai, Apr 16 : Government Medical college students and interns along with resident doctors across Maharashtra continued their strike against a cut in the number of seats for post-graduate courses.

They are protesting against the reduction of post-graduate medical seats from 653 last year to 411 this year, a cut of 242 seats.

The Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) has failed to get the mandatory recognition for the seats from the Medical Council of India (MCI) because it did not comply with MCI rules, mostly for not having enough teachers.

The MCI should restore the teacher student ratio in the PG course to 1:2 and increase the number of seats to 1900 which has been reduced to 411 in January 2008 selection, interns representatives Akshay Basna said on Tuesday.

The students said MCA is not a regulatory body and can only advise the state government.

Teachers at 13 government medical colleges across the state are expected to join the strike from Thursday.

Medical Education Secretary of the state is expected to talk to the Centre this week to recognise these seats so that they can admit students.

The results of PG seats for January 2008 have been announced and counselling for 411 seats began from April 8.

ANI