State’s plan to open new medical colleges on the rocks

The ambitious plan of the state to open at least six medical colleges and create 1,000-odd seats for students by this year seems to be on the rocks.

State's plan to open new medical colleges on the rocks

The ambitious plan of the state to open at least six medical colleges and create 1,000-odd seats for students by this year seems to be on the rocks.u00a0

A surprise visit by a three-member Medical Council of India (MCI) team last week caught the state medical department officials unawares, and apparently in a hurry to show the required number of faculty members "by hook or by crook" for a proposed medical college in the city.

The apex body found that doctors were not only 'loaned' from a short-staffed Grant Medical College, but also an ineligible person was appointed as the superintendent of the proposed college to ensure it gets MCI recognition.

According to MCI norms, only a postgraduate doctor can be appointed as the superintendent of a medical college. The inspection team was shocked and furious to know that Dr A P Chaudhari, an MBBS degree holder, was appointed as medical superintendent at GT hospital, a part of the proposed college.

MiD DAY had reported ('Doctors on 'Loan' on March 22) how doctors, including dean Dr T P Lahane, have been 'loaned' from the short-staffed Grant Medical College to ensure that the new college at the facility gets MCI recognition.

A source, present during the last week's inspection, told MiD DAY that the team was satisfied with the medical facilities, including hospital beds, departments and number of patients.

But when it came to the appointment of faculty members, the team became skeptical as the teachers failed to produce the appointment letters instantly.

They could produce the documents only on the second day of inspection, he added.

"The minute the MCI team learnt that the superintendent is not qualified according to the MCI rules, they politely asked him to leave the office," said a doctor requesting anonymity, adding that some other doctor was then shown as the medical superintendent on paper.

However, Dr A P Chaudhari, medical superintendent of GT hospital, said, "I am only holding an additional charge of the medical superintendent."

Expert Speak
Dr P Prasannaraj, Additional secretary, MCI, said, "No medical teacher can work in two medical colleges simultaneously according to the MCI rules."

The Other Side
Dr T P Lahane, GMC Dean, said, "In the MCI inspection, we did not show u00a0Dr A P Chaudhari as the medical superintendent of the proposed medical college. Dr C Gaikwad, who is the superintendent of St George hospital, was shown as the medical superintendent of the new institute." However, Gaikwad was recently suspended for dereliction of duty.