Govt seeks MCI nod for MBBS course in three new colleges

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 25

The state government has written to the Medical Council of India (MCI) for letter permission to start admissions for the first batch of MBBS in three medical colleges coming up in the state, the chances of which seems bleak.

The inspection of these colleges to be set up at Chamba, Hamirpur and Nahan by the MCI is expected in November and approval or disapproval by the MCI would be conveyed by the end of the year while the MBBS classes commence in September.

The MCI wants to ensure that requisite infrastructure, faculty and future expansion plans are in place at the three colleges.

The counselling for admissions to 200 MBBS seats in two government medical colleges would be completed by early September and as such there would be no counselling for these upcoming colleges.

All three colleges would start with 100 MBBS seats and besides basic infrastructure, adequate faculty would have to be in place before first inspection. The government has so far not even made the appointment of principals, senior faculty members at the colleges. As per the requirement of the Medical Council of India (MCI), 25 professors are required for 100 MBBS seats at the time of issuance of “Letter of Permission” (LOP) and the total requirement for four medical colleges, including the ESI Medical Colleges at Mandi which is in the pipeline would be 100.

While the Union government had given formal approval for Hamirpur and Nahan colleges, the case of Chamba was referred back and approval was obtained last week after a detailed presentation regarding the available infrastructure, land availability and expansion plans was made.

The existing zonal hospitals would be upgraded at all three places and land for setting up of the medical colleges and further expansion has been provided within 10 km radius as per the MCI norms. The government has so far created and advertised the posts but recruitments are yet to be made and in view of overall shortage of senior faculty across the country, finding qualified faculty is a daunting task.

Huge physical infrastructure has been created for ESI Medical College in Mandi district but the Centre has not so far handed over the college to the state government but talks are in the final stage. Fearing exodus of senior faculty, leading to the shortage of professors, the state government had increased the retirement age of medical teachers from 58 to 62 years but it temporarily eased the position and as many as 23 professors would retire from two government medical colleges, IGMC and Dr RP Medical College in 2016.

In case, shortage is not met, the PG courses would suffer as at least one professor is required for two PG students as per the MCI norms.