GMCH overlooks report, wants MBBS seats up

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 22

Setting aside a report of a nine-member committee of the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, which pointed out glaring deficiencies for increasing the MBBS seats from the existing 100 to 150, the authorities concerned have sent the proposal for approval to the Medical Council of India (MCI).

The committee, comprising eight GMCH department heads and the Registrar (Academic), has pointed out a shortfall of 99 beds, 11 assistant professors and 11 deputy/assistant nursing superintendents. It further found that for increasing the seats, there was a requirement for a lecture theatre having a seating capacity of 200 and and an examination hall having a seating capacity of 250, which do not exist at present.

The committee, chaired by Prof AK Attri, Head, Department of General Surgery, also found that there was no availability of hostels as per the proposal for increasing the seats.

The proposal was sent to Panjab University by the GMCH Director last year. The university approved it. Now, it has been sent to the MCI for the final nod, but senior faculty members are surprised over the move in view of the shortcomings. It is expected that the increase in seats will come into effect in the coming session, beginning May, if the proposal gets the MCI nod.

“Strange are the ways of the authorities, who have ignored the report of eight department heads of the GMCH. The college doesn’t have the required seating capacity, assistant professors, nursing staff and hostels to implement the plan. Several MBBS students failed in the exams. If we are going to increase the seats without having the required infrastructure, it will affect the results and their training,” lamented a senior faculty member.

Asked about the shortcomings, GMCH Director BS Chavan tried to brush aside the matter. “There is a shortage of doctors, so it has been decided to increase the seats. We will make some internal arrangements and whatever shortcomings are there, we will take care of these. Besides, according to the MCI norms, we can make do with 5 per cent deficiency.”

However, a senior hospital functionary said, “How can the Director say that such major arrangements will be made before May. Under the prevailing circumstances, the move is going to do more harm than good.”

Chandigarh BJP president Sanjay Tandon, who had last month written to Union Health Minister JP Nadda in this regard, said, “There is a huge shortage of doctors in the country. We had recommended to increase the seats so that Chandigarh students can have better prospects. Infrastructural improvements will happen alongside.”       

What the panel said

“The committee is of the unanimous view that before considering the case for increase the intake from 100 to 150 MBBS seats, these deficiencies are required to be looked into and rectified accordingly.”  

Directorspeak

There is a shortage of doctors, so it has been decided to increase the seats. We will make some internal arrangements and whatever shortcomings are there, we will take care of these. Besides, according to the MCI norms, we can make do with 5 per cent deficiency. — BS Chavan, Director, GMCH