State promises infrastructure in med colleges

Govt gives MCI an undertaking that deficiency will be addressed in a year

The State has sent its representatives to the Medical Council of India (MCI), with an undertaking that the lack of infrastructure in government medical colleges would be addressed over the next one year.

This follows severe strictures by MCI over its move to increase seats for undergraduates in government medical colleges. 

The MCI, over the past one year, has come down heavily in its assessment of five government colleges at Bidar, Hubli, Mysore, Raichur and Bangalore. The government had expected to increase the intake by another 400 seats with an extra 50 seats in Mysore and Hubli; 100 seats each in Bidar and Raichur, and 100 seats in Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI).

In its assessment report, MCI noted that Bidar Institute of Medical Sciences woefully lacked infrastructure to increase students’ intake.

“In clinical departments, OPD space is adequate. However, minor Operation Theatre of OPD needs upgrading and should be made functional. Basic instruments like proctoscope, torch, weighing machines, view boxes, gloves and  resuscitation kits are not available,” it observed.

On Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, the assessment noted that there was “department-wise shortage of faculty” and “inadequate area of central library”. Further, it found shortfall in accommodation for teaching and non-teaching staff in the college. The UG committee, in its assement of Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Hubli, had noted that there was non-availability of hostels for interns and X-ray system.

State Medical Education Department officials said that MCI had asked for compliance report on BMCRI to plug loopholes in infrastructure and undertaking on upgrading facilities in Bidar and Raichur. With regard to Mysore and Hubli, the increase in number of seats has been accepted and final approval is likely, officials said. MCI had agreed to approve the increase in intake in respective colleges, provided that an undertaking was given by the Chief Secretary to address the deficiencies.

Minister of Medical Education Sharanprakash Patil said the State had given an undertaking that infrastructure deficiency would be addressed within a year and that the State had no option but to wait for MCI’s approval.

Currently, government colleges have 1,250 undergraduate seats in the State, with 15 per cent of them being surrendered to the Centre for filling them through
AIIMS examination.