Govt rejects plan to set up 83 medical colleges

Permission to expand intake also turned down

The Health Ministry has turned down proposals for setting up of around 83 medical colleges based on recommendations of Medical Council of India (MCI).

It  has also denied permissions to 47 medical colleges in various states to expand their intake of MBBS students during the 2016-17 batch.

At the same time, the ministry, as per recommendations of India’s medical regulator has denied permission to increase or start various superspeciality courses in 39 such medical institutions of the country for 2016-17.

However, it has approved the establishment of 11 medical colleges for 2016-17. The letter sent by the ministry to the 83 establishments, said: “I am directed to enclose copy of letter of MCI containing its recommendations to disapprove your scheme for establishment of new medical college...”

“...and to say that the Central government has decided to accept the recommendation of MCI. Accordingly disapproval of your said scheme is conveyed herewith,” one of the letters said. It added that the college or institution can give fresh applications for the next academic session strictly as per the provisions of Indian Medical Council Act 1956.

The move comes after the MCI recently directed all medical colleges to send in details about their faculty within two days so as to upload these on its website, a move aimed at checking the practice of “ghost” faculties and bring in more transparency.

Following directions of the oversight committee constituted by the Supreme Court, India’s medical education regulator had issued the circular to the colleges asking them to consider it as “most urgent”.

In another letter, the ministry letter said: “I am directed to refer to the letter of MCI recommending to the central government not to renew the permission for admission of 5th batch of MBBS students against increased intake from 100-150...for the academic year 2016-17 and to say that Central government has decided to accept the recommendation of MCI”.