Lack of infrastructure forces Centre to deny approval to three private medical colleges

The Centre has denied approval to three new private medical colleges across the state as they lack adequate infrastructure. The Medical Council of India had recommended the Union Health Ministry not to give permission to three newly set up medical colleges here in the state permission for admitting the candidates for the current academic session of 2016-17.

Union Health Ministry has written letters to three applicants expressing that they would not be 

allowed permission for admitting students at undergraduate medical courses this year and they can apply for the next year.

These three medical colleges from West Bengal were among 175 private medical colleges in the country which were denied permission by the Union Health Ministry on the recommendation of 

the Medical Council of India.

However, the Centre has asked the Medical Council of India to reconsider the decision and also advised the highest regulating body to look into the infrastructural issues for yet another time.

The decision was taken by the health ministry following the recommendation of the three member committee headed by former Chief Justice of India RM Lodha to see the functioning of the Medical Council of India.

These medical colleges can now have a second opportunity to submit representations to the health 

ministry within June 22. In normal cases the Medical Council of India completes the processes of approving or disapproving of new medical colleges or the increasing of existing seats within June 15.

The health ministry in the last week had turned down proposals for setting up of over 80 private  medical colleges based on recommendations of the Medical Council of India.

It also denied permissions to 47 medical colleges in various states to increase their intake of MBBS students during the 2016-17 academic sessions.

The Union Health Ministry has written to the senior officials of the organisations that had applied for the permission for starting up a medical college in West Bengal and told them that the Centre had disapproved their scheme for establishment of new medical colleges for the academic year 2016-17.

However they are free to apply afresh for the next academic year, the letter mentions.

The private organisations that had applied for starting up a medical college in the state from the current academic session are the Durgapur Institute of Advance Technology and Management Society, Chikitsabrati Udyog in Howrah and the Techno India that had also a desire to open a medical college in Darjeeling from this year.

The owners of the private institutions are, however, waiting with their fingers crossed if the Centre allows them permission after the reconsideration of the proposal by the Medical Council of India.

If these three medical colleges get clearance from this year they will get 100 seats each for MBBS course.

A total 300 seats will be increased in the state among which the state government can admit their 

candidates in 33 per cent seats reserved for them in any private medical colleges in the state.