MCI picks holes in infra for additional seats at SKIMS

Samaan Lateef
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, November 27

Due to the failure of the state government in upgrading the infrastructure at SKIMS Medical College, Bemina, the institution faces an uphill task of getting its MBBS seats recognised from the Medical Council of India (MCI). A three-member team of the MCI is on a two-day visit to the SKIMS Medical College to inspect the infrastructure, bed strength, patient care, faculty and standard of academics for the MBBS course.

The MBBS quota of SKIMS Medical College was enhanced in 2013 from 50 to 100 seats. The MCI has been conducting inspections every year to ascertain if the minimum requirements have been fulfilled at the medical college for the recognition of 50 seats added in 2013.

As per MCI guidelines to have 100 MBBS seats, the SKIMS should have a minimum of 120 beds and four units each in surgery and medicine departments. The paediatrics and orthopaedics departments should have 60 beds and two units each while 60 beds and two units are required for the obstetrics and gynaecology department. However, officials say the infrastructure, bed strength and availability of faculty to teach the MBBS students is below the minimum requirements.

“The requirements to run the five-year MBBS course change every year so we have to conduct inspections regularly. Also, our present visit is an overall inspection to assess infrastructure, faculty, patient care, and academics,” an MCI official told The Tribune. Even in its earlier communications to the state government, the MCI had said much of what was recommended by the council had remained unaddressed.

In 2015 too, the MCI had recommended the reduction of the MBBS seats to the Union Health Ministry, citing mismanagement and failure of the SKIMS administration in rectifying even minor deficiencies in the college.

Director, SKIMS, Dr Omar Javed Shah said he was hopeful that the council would recognise the additional MBBS seats allotted to the college. “We have put a lot of efforts to improve the infrastructure, academics and patient care. I hope the MCI will not be disappointed this time,” he said.

50 seats were increased in 2013

The MBBS quota of SKIMS Medical College was enhanced in 2013 from 50 to 100 seats. The MCI has been conducting inspections every year to ascertain if the minimum requirements have been fulfilled at the medical college for the recognition of 50 seats added in 2013.