Enquiries by Millennium Post over the past week has revealed that politicians cutting across the party line and corporate houses have been hit hard by the MCI decision to not allow fresh admission in 41 medical colleges across the country.
However, what is queer is that union health minister Harsh Vardhan, known for his impeccable image, has decided to criticise the ‘bureaucratic stand’ of the MCI on the matter. While flaying MCI, Vardhan has said, ‘For years it was an open secret that MCI was looking the other way as medical colleges rampantly flouted regulations. Suddenly, this year they have struck. But why are they not punishing the managements?’
According to an MCI official, with no fresh admissions, the private medical colleges stand to lose several crores of rupees as fee. ‘One fails to understand why the minister is saying that the managements of these medical colleges are not being punished.’ The ministry has rather been supportive of these colleges in its action.
Following de-recognition of these colleges by the MCI, the health ministry had advised a reassessment. This was disagreed to by the regulator. Following this, Vardhan issued a statement criticising the regulator.
When contacted to respond on the allegation leveled by the minister, Dr Jayshreeben Mehta, president of the MCI, told Millennium Post, ‘We are doing what we have been told to do by the Supreme Court of India. Following the guidelines of the top court we had told the health ministry that we cannot extend the deadline for providing infrastructure in the colleges and affiliated hospitals.’
A specific questionnaire was mailed to the media director, ministry of health to get a response from minister Vardhan on 7 August. However, no reply has been received till the time of going to press.
The minister was specifically asked why was it asking MCI to violate the Supreme Court orders; was such directions being given on behest of the management of these colleges which are populated with politicians and what steps government has mulled to resolve the issue. The minister was personally approached at a function on 7 August at Nirman Bhawan by this reporter and was told to file the queries through a mail.
On Tuesday we are releasing names of 10 derecognised medical colleges and the influential people on their board who could have probably influenced the move by the health ministry to ask for reassessment. In the coming days, as our enquiry progresses, we would reveal more names.
However, what is queer is that union health minister Harsh Vardhan, known for his impeccable image, has decided to criticise the ‘bureaucratic stand’ of the MCI on the matter. While flaying MCI, Vardhan has said, ‘For years it was an open secret that MCI was looking the other way as medical colleges rampantly flouted regulations. Suddenly, this year they have struck. But why are they not punishing the managements?’
According to an MCI official, with no fresh admissions, the private medical colleges stand to lose several crores of rupees as fee. ‘One fails to understand why the minister is saying that the managements of these medical colleges are not being punished.’ The ministry has rather been supportive of these colleges in its action.
Following de-recognition of these colleges by the MCI, the health ministry had advised a reassessment. This was disagreed to by the regulator. Following this, Vardhan issued a statement criticising the regulator.
When contacted to respond on the allegation leveled by the minister, Dr Jayshreeben Mehta, president of the MCI, told Millennium Post, ‘We are doing what we have been told to do by the Supreme Court of India. Following the guidelines of the top court we had told the health ministry that we cannot extend the deadline for providing infrastructure in the colleges and affiliated hospitals.’
A specific questionnaire was mailed to the media director, ministry of health to get a response from minister Vardhan on 7 August. However, no reply has been received till the time of going to press.
The minister was specifically asked why was it asking MCI to violate the Supreme Court orders; was such directions being given on behest of the management of these colleges which are populated with politicians and what steps government has mulled to resolve the issue. The minister was personally approached at a function on 7 August at Nirman Bhawan by this reporter and was told to file the queries through a mail.
On Tuesday we are releasing names of 10 derecognised medical colleges and the influential people on their board who could have probably influenced the move by the health ministry to ask for reassessment. In the coming days, as our enquiry progresses, we would reveal more names.