AYUSH colleges show inability to manage diagnostic infrastructure

Vishal Joshi

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, December 12

The National Federation of Homeopathic Medical Colleges of India (NFHMCI) has urged the Central Government to roll back the mandatory provision for AYUSH colleges to have diagnostic infrastructures on their premises.

Dr Suresh K Nandal, president of the federation, told The Tribune on Tuesday that the private colleges offering courses in alternative medicines were unable to own and maintain ultrasound and other diagnostic facilities.

He said AYUSH students and practitioners did not depend much upon the mechanical diagnostics. “Earlier, the AYUSH colleges were free to work in collaboration with hospitals to impart practical training to students. But from this year, the Central Government has made it binding for the colleges to have all these facilities on campus. We are unable to bear the cost incurred on the expensive infrastructure,” said Nandal.

He said a delegation of the federation had met Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Union Secretary, AYUSH, last week with a demand to end disparity with the private institutes.

He also said that the delay in the annual inspection had further delayed admissions and the exercise should be managed to ensure it was completed by the end of March every year.

Nandal said a shortage of faculty was common at private and government colleges but the issue was pointed out at only in private colleges.

“The Central authorities conduct an annual audit of various facilities before allowing fresh admissions. While lecturers from government colleges are roped in for inspections, professors of private AYUSH institutes are ignored for these assignments. We demand that private professionals be included on the inspection panels,” he stated.

Nandal said the Centre’s ruling of making biometric attendance mandatory for students and teachers was impractical. Such a provision should be delayed at least another two years.

“Several of these colleges are based out of big cities, where electricity and Internet outages are common. Like other medical and dental colleges, the AYUSH institutes should also be allowed to send attendance through e-mail to the Central agencies to maintain transparency,” he added.