State to have medical sciences varsity

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 17

The government, which has failed to take action against Maharshi Markandeshwar Medical College and Hospital (MMMC), Kumarhatti, for not getting affiliation to Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) as mandated in essentiality certificate for opening the college, is planning to set up Medical Sciences University to rein in private medical education institutions.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh had earlier announced that a Bill would be introduced in the Winter Session but it was not done and now the government planned to bring a comprehensive Bill in the Budget Session of the Vidhan Sabha.

All medical education institutions would be affiliated to Medical Sciences University and a comprehensive Bill was being drafted, Health and Family Welfare Minister Kaul Singh said.

Ministerial and official level talks between the Health and Ayurveda Departments had already been held and both had given their consent, he added.

The draft Bill would be approved by the Cabinet before introducing in the Vidhan Sabha and all medical courses from six months to five-year duration would be regulated by the proposed university.

There are 56 institutions, including four government and one private medical colleges, five dental colleges, 21 nursing colleges and 33 institutions running GNM courses while three more medical colleges at Nerchowk, Hamirpur and Chamba are in the pipeline.