Health varsity to come up at Bibinagar or Warangal

Permission to private medical entrance ruled out: Rajaiah

Cabinet to decide on medical common fee

200 medical seats lost due to failure of earlier govt

Bio-metric system for government docs soon

Hyderabad: Government of Telangana has announced that it would soon come out with a plan to set up a Health University on the lines of NTR University of Health Sciences (NTRUHS), which is located at Vijayawada. “We have identified 300 acres of land at Bibinagar in Nalgonda district and Warangal district for this purpose. It would take care of admissions and other issues relating to medical education in Telangana,” Dr Tatikonda Rajaiah, Minister for Medical and Health told media here on Wednesday.

The minister has ruled out giving permission to a separate medical entrance test by private medical college managements. “No private EAMCET is allowed. That much is sure. We will go to court and if needed. We will fight it out in the apex court again. Medical admissions will not be privatized,” he made it clear.

“The admissions for first year MBBS and BDS course will be done through counselling by NTR University of Health Sciences for this year. I cannot tell you right now what would happen next year,” he said.

The minister has also informed that the fee structure in medical colleges for the academic year will be revised and the AFRC (Admission and Fee Regulatory Commission) is yet to submit its report to the government. “The issue of common fee is still under the consideration of AFRC. Once we get the report, it will be sent it to cabinet,” Rajaiah said.

It may be recalled that the AFRC has already reportedly recommended a common fee ranging from Rs 3.25 lakh to Rs 4 lakh, depending upon the college, its standard and location.

He elaborated the existing fee structure in government and private medical colleges in Telangana saying that the total number of seats is 850 and a fee of Rs 13,000(Rs 10,000 + Rs. 3000) has been charged in five government-run colleges. In private institutions, three categories of fee structure has been there, Rs 60,000, Rs 2, 4 lakh and Rs 5.5 lakh.

Rajaiah admitted that the Telangana region has lost 200 medical seats this year and blamed the previous government in undivided Andhra Pradesh for this loss. The seats are: Nizamabad- 100; OMC- 50 and Gandhi Medical College- 50 seats. “This is sheer negligence on the part of Kiran Kumar Reddy, led government. They failed to provide funds to develop infrastructure in these colleges as per the guidelines of Medical Council of India (MCI). We will petition the MCI and union government to provide us a chance to improve infra. We will try our best to get back those seats,” Rajaiah said.

In a word of caution to all the government doctors, the minister made it clear that they have to remain in hospitals and PHCs and their work-places. “We will soon be introducing bio-metric system for the doctors. They have to register the thumb impression thrice a day- 9 am, 1 pm and again at 5 pm to ensure their presence in the hospital. They shall not go in for private practice during working hours,” he directed.

The minister assured that the Arogyasri scheme would be implemented effectively. Steps will be taken to prevent the outbreak of diseases as the monsoon season has started, he said.