MCI to inspect medical colleges

A team from MCI is expected to visit the colleges in AP, TS in November and December

Hyderabad: Alarm bells have started ringing in both the governments as the Medical Council of India (MCI) is expected to visit the colleges in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh for inspection.

Additional MBBS seats which were allotted prior to bifurcation has created new headache for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Directorate of Medical Education.

Before bifurcation of erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, the MCI had allotted an additional 750 seats to the colleges. The Telangana and Andhra Pradesh will have to undergo an acid test for retaining the additional MBBS seats. A team from MCI is expected to visit the colleges in November and December to check whether the colleges were following the norms and rules.

At the time of allotment, the MCI had laid down stringent rules and norms. A few of these norms include, adequate infrastructure, equipment, laboratories, classrooms faculty, so on and so forth.

The MCI had also warned the colleges that they would cancel the additional intake allotted to them if they fail to meet the standards laid down by MCI.

While the seats were allotted prior to bifurcation of the united Andhra Pradesh, post the split officials of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments have given written agreement to MCI stating that they would adhere to the norms laid by it. However, it is learnt that the state of colleges in both the States that were allotted seats were in pathetic condition. Though several months passed, still several colleges do not have proper infrastructure and equipment. It is also learnt that Gandhi Medical College, Andhra Medical College and SV Medical were among a few that were under the scanner of MCI.

Above all, dearth of professors is hunting the colleges. The Andhra Pradesh Health department has already written to the government seeking permission to fill 250 posts, so far there was no communication from the government over the recruitment, said sources. The same applies to the Telangana government as well.

Osmania Medical College Junior Doctors Association president G Srinivas lambasted the government over the callousness attitude over recruitment.

“The directorate of Medical Education itself said that there were 250 vacancies. So far the government did not take up recruitment. Though additional seats were given, there has been no improvement in the facilities and infrastructure in the colleges. While there should be 10 faculty members in Anatomy department of Kakatiya Medical College, there are only two. If this continues the colleges will lose the additional intake,” Srinivas said.

However, director of Medical Education, Telangana Dr Putta Srinivas Reddy said that efforts are underway to retain all the seats that were allotted to the State.