MCI raps Telangana over stipend collection from medicos

HYDERABAD: The Medical Council of India (MCI) pulled up the Telangana state government over a controversial government order issued earlier this year in May, allowing private medical colleges to collect stipend worth Rs 50 crore from post graduate medicos.

The apex medical council swung into action after a string of complaints poured in from different quarters over illegal collection of stipend from medicos. In a strongly worded letter, MCI's post graduate committee secretary Reena Nayyar, asked the director of medical education in Telangana to respond immediately on what grounds it permitted private medical colleges to violate regulations and asked money from students, instead of paying them the mandatory stipend.

"The private medical colleges seem to have misled the state government to allow them to collect Rs 50 crore of stipends from around 625 PG medicos for their entire three-year period of study through a GO. The state must immediately cancel this GO," said Dr K Ramesh Reddy, MCI member and one of the several complainants, who brought the issue to the notice of the MCI last month.

In fact, several other individuals, independent medicos and representatives of Telangana Junior Doctors' Association (TJUDA) too have dragged both the state and private medical colleges in Telangana before MCI.

However, when TOI sought comments on the stipend imbroglio that the medicos in private colleges are facing, some of the senior officials from the Telangana health and medical education department defended the controversial GO No 35, while others just played safe. "Though the government has allowed private medical colleges to collect stipend from students and pay back the same to them later on, we have not in any way interfered with MCI's regulation. The state is within its rights to issue such an order," said Gopal Reddy, deputy secretary, health department, Telangana.

On the other hand, Dr M Ramani, the D.ME, Telangana, played it safe saying that she was not aware about the circumstances behind the GO, when it was issued in May, as she took charge in June.

However, TJUDA state president Dr G Srinivas and independent medicos like Dr P Rajesh, a first year MS surgery student in Guntur Medical College, not only differed with the state officials' version but have gone on to lodge a complaint against private medical colleges with MCI. "Last month, my private medical college in Karimnagar forcibly collected first installment of my total stipend Rs 2.5 lakh when I reported before the college, days before I got a seat in a government medical college," said Rajesh, who too has lodged a complaint with MCI now.

Narrating the woes of the 1,800 odd PG medicos studying in 15 private medical colleges in Telangana, TJUDA state president G Srinivas said the state government must withdraw the controversial GO. "Last month, these 15 colleges collected around Rs 5.5 crore from PG medicos as the first quarter stipend but we don't know how they are going to pay back the same later," he said.

So, what's the rule position on stipend for medicos?

Under Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000, the MCI states: The post graduate students of the institutions which are located in various states / union territories shall be paid remuneration at par with the remuneration being paid to the post graduate students of state government medical institutions / central government medical Institutions. The average monthly stipend paid to a PG medico in a state-run medical college is about Rs 22,000.

Meanwhile, when contacted, C Laxmi Narsimha Rao, convenor of Telangana private medical colleges, acknowledged that private medical colleges were collecting stipends from medicos only to pay them back later and totally defended the GO.

"We (private medical colleges) do not have money to pay stipend to our medicos as we rarely generate revenue from hospitals attached to our medical colleges. This is due to the fact that we charge subsidised fees for both out-patient and In-patient treatments," he said, adding that for six years, the government did not hike tuition fees of medical courses in the state.

NAAC directs colleges to make Self Study Report public

Indore : The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) has made it mandatory for all the colleges and institutions to make their Self Study Report (SSR) public before submitting the Letter of Intent.

In the revised timeline and procedure of assessment and accreditation for the colleges, NAAC has directed to upload the SSR report on the website before submitting the Letter of Intent.

Earlier, it was not mandatory for the colleges to publish the report before getting the accreditation. In its new guidelines, it is also mentioned that LOI will be processed by NAAC and the decision in this regard shall be communicated within 15 days.

Besides, Institutional Eligibility for Quality Assessment (IEQA) should be submitted within the one week of acceptance of LOI and they will have to submit the SSR within two weeks of the acceptance of LOI/IEQA.

After getting the receipt of SSR, NAAC will decide the dates of visit and constitute the teams to visit the institutions within three weeks and the inspection should be completed in one month. National Assessment and Accreditation Council also cautioned the colleges to reject the assessment application if they found any deficiency in the LOI and the colleges will have to resubmit it along with the registration charges again.

MCI casual while dealing with students, patients: HC

NAGPUR: The Medical Council of India (MCI) again came under the firing line of Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court for the second time in two weeks, following its negative report about Chandrapur Government Medical College (GMC).

"We're at pains to observe that MCI indulges in causal approach while dealing with the lives of hundreds of students and thousands of needy patients," a division bench comprising Justice Bhushan Gavai and Justice Indira Jain tersely observed, while directing the union health ministry to fill up 100 MBBS seats of the GMC before September 30, and adjourning hearing by four weeks. TOI has highlighted the issue since last two days in detail.

The apex body for medical education had given negative recommendation about the GMC to union ministry stating that it lacked basic criteria of 300 beds without conducting reinspection. The court flayed MCI while stating that it could have reviewed the case by visiting its premises after being directed by the ministry. "The MCI members, while sitting in Delhi, came to the conclusion that it lacked 300 beds. We're not aware whether its members are possessing some supernatural powers for physically verifying number of beds at Chandrapur from a distance of over 1,000km," the judges said.

They noted that part of Chandrapur and entire Gadchiroli are in backward area and occupied by tribals. "On account of coal mines, thermal power station and other industries, Chandrapur is one of the most polluted cities. If state makes an attempt to provide advanced medical facilities in backward area, it is on account of callous attitude on MCI's part the poor citizens are deprived of medical college facilities."

Citing GMC and IGGMC in Nagpur, the judges pointed out that they not only cater to needs of poor citizens in Vidarbha but also Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. "Establishing medical college doesn't only benefits students, but services of expert doctors are also made available to that area, thereby providing medical help to poor strata of the society," the judges observed.

The court reminded MCI of its efforts to reduce 50 seats of IGGMC and GMCs at Akola and Yavatmal. "When court passed some orders in these cases, the MCI was gracious enough to challenge them before the Supreme Court. It was on account of apex court orders MCI was not successful in its attempt to reduce 150 MBBS seats from this backward region."

The judges also criticized ministry for relying on MCI's recommendations despite the fact the applicant was state and not the college. "Irrespective of MCI's negative recommendation for reducing seats at Akola, the ministry didn't accept recommendation and as per our orders granted renewal to 150 MBBS seats.

We would have appreciated the ministry if it would have repeated same action in present case. However, it appears that ministry got carried away by incorrect information given by MCI that reverification was done," the court stated.

என் நட்பு, எனக்கு வேண்டிய பதிவுகள்: ஃபேஸ்புக் புதிய வசதி

ஒவ்வொரு முறையும் ஃபேஸ்புக்குக்குள் நுழையும்போது, உங்களுக்குப் பிடித்தமானவர்கள் மற்றும் சிறப்பாக இயங்குபவர்களின் பதிவுகளை முதலில் பார்க்கும் வசதியை ஃபேஸ்புக் அறிமுகப்படுத்தி இருக்கிறது.

நீங்கள் என்ன பார்க்க விரும்புகிறீர்களோ, அதையே முதலில் பார்க்கும் வசதியை இன்று (வியாழன்) முதல் தொடங்கியிருக்கிறது ஃபேஸ்புக்.

யாருடைய பதிவுகளைத் தவறவிடக் கூடாது அல்லது முதலில் பார்க்க வேண்டும், படிக்க வேண்டும் என்று விரும்புகிறீர்களோ அவர்களுடைய புரொஃபைலுக்குச் செல்லுங்கள். அதில் "following" என்று குறிப்பிட்டுள்ள பெட்டியைத் திறந்து "see first" என்ற ஆப்ஷனை க்ளிக் செய்யுங்கள்.

இதேபோல், நீங்கள் ஏற்கெனவே விரும்பிய ஃபேஸ்புக் பக்கங்களுக்குச் சென்று, 'Liked' என்ற பெட்டியைத் திறந்து "see first" என்ற ஆப்ஷனை க்ளிக் செய்யுங்கள்.

இதையடுத்து, ஒவ்வொரு முறை நீங்கள் ஃபேஸ்புக்குக்குள் நுழையும்போதும், உங்கள் விருப்பமான பதிவுகள்தான் உங்களது நியூஸ் ஃபீடில் முதலில் வந்து அணிவகுக்கும்.

இதன் மூலம் தேவையில்லாத தகவல்கள், நெடுநாட்களாக மறந்தே போன நண்பர்களின் பதிவுகள், சலிப்பை ஏற்படுத்தும் செய்திகளில் இருந்து தப்பித்துக்கொள்ளலாம்.

இதன் மூலம் பிடித்த நண்பர்களின் பதிவுகள், புகைப்படங்கள் மற்றும் வீடியோக்களுக்கு முக்கியத்துவம் கொடுக்கமுடியும். இது, புது வகையிலான 'களையெடுப்பு' என்றும் நெட்டிசன்களால் கருதப்படுகிறது.

KIMS willing to re-admit students under NRI quota

Following the High Court order on Tuesday that directed the Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), to pay a compensation of Rs one crore each to the three students who were illegally admitted to the MBBS cou­rse, Dr Appaji Gowda, president of Rajya Vokkaligara Sangha that manages KIMS, said the college was ready to re-admit them to the fir­s­t year under the NRI (non-resident Indian) quota.

“No eligibility criteria is required except for a candidate to have passed their previous qualifying examination. We are, in any case, not getting enough students through the NRI quota. However, there are some conditions the students will have to follow. For example, a relative staying outside the country has to issue a sponsorship letter stating that he/she is sponsoring the education of the candidate,” he said.

He said the Supreme Court had fixed a fees of around US$60,000 to US$65,000 for the entire course. “This year, we have got the nod for 150 seats. However, we will forgo three seats to accommodate these three students.”

Gowda said he had communicated the same to the parents and the candidates “were getting ready to get admitted”. They are, however, yet to take a decision.

Gowda said the MCI had allowed the intake of 150 seats last year, which was why the institute had admitted the three students. However, a communication was received soon after that the intake was reduced to 120 without any valid reason.

“We approached the Supreme Court, which agreed to restore the seats with a rider that 30 seats would go to the CET pool and not under the management quota. There was also a special counselling for the enhanced seats for many colleges,” he said.

When asked about the hefty donations paid by the students, especially the case of Ruthvik who allegedly paid 47 lakh to two directors of the Sangha, while also giving Rs 65 lakh towards the VS Hospital Fund, Dr Gowda feigned ignorance. “I have no knowledge of other payments except for the Rs 65 lakh,” he said.

The High Court had given the liberty to the candidate to press civil or criminal action on this matter.

NRI students prefer Anna University

Chennai: ECE (Electrical and Communication Engineering), Computer Science and Mechanical Engineering were the subjects most favored by non-resident Indian students during the counselling at Anna University on Thursday.Of the 101 candidates who attended the counseling, 97 have taken admission under NRI category at three different collegesCollege of Engineering Guindy, MIT Chrompet and Alagappa College of Technology.

There is 5 per cent reservation in each of these colleges for NRI category.K. Shobiita had been staying in Doha in Qatar for the past seven years. She has already cleared in Carnegie Mellon in US in Pennsylvania.Yet she wanted to come to Anna University to check her status. “I am undecided whether to go to the U.S. or study in India. I got Computer Science here,” she said. But her mother believes Anna University is a good institution for her. “Anna University is a very reputed one.

It was a dream to make her study in this college,” Shobita’s mother said.. Nisha from Singapore came for counselling for the same reason as her father thinks that Anna University is the best college to be at.

GMC Chanda: MCI’s rejection sans re-inspection deliberate?

NAGPUR: The decision of Medical Council of India (MCI) to reject permission to Chandrapur Government Medical College (GMC) to fill up 100 MBBS seats has raised many doubts. MCI rejected the permission without physically conducting a re-inspection even after it was directed to do so by the union ministry for health and family welfare, say college authorities. MCI was censured by the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court on Wednesday, stating that MCI officials had used their "supernatural powers" to inspect the GMC from sitting in their AC chambers in New Delhi.

The Maharashtra government's affidavit filed by Chandrapur GMC dean Pradeep Dixit reveals how MCI "deliberately" reported about presence of 274 beds to union ministry, despite the fact that it had 300 beds since 2006. MCI pointed out 24 deficiencies in the college in an inspection it conducted there on December 29 and 30 last year. The government reduced a majority of the shortcomings.

Dixit's affidavit, which contained photographs of actual conditions, clearly proved that they tried hard to improve the infrastructure as required by the apex body for medical education. MCI chairman Jayashree Mehta did not answer TOI's calls seeking comments.

Counsel for petitioners Anil Kilor clarified the procedure of inspection, while blaming MCI for deliberately neglecting GMC's genuine claims. A new medical college must fulfill five basic criteria including 25-acre land, finance, well-equipped building, adequate faculty and a 300-bed hospital for getting a permission to start the academic session. Other requirements like hostels can be built eventually after getting permission. In government colleges, land and finances are considered so seriously, but the number of beds is thoroughly verified.

"The surgery department of GMC Chandrapur has 90 beds and gynaecology has 40. During MCI's inspection, there were more patients of gynaecology on that day which were shifted to surgery ward. The MCI inspector didn't count 26 beds of surgery ward which were allocated to gynaecology patients. He noted 64 beds in surgery but failed to add 40 beds of gynaecology, thus he marked 274 beds, instead of 300 which were in existence since 2006," Kilor said.

GMC officials told TOI that despite GMC authorities' demand for a hearing, MCI ignored their pleas. At a hearing with the union health ministry, GMC officials provided the entire list of infrastructure and facilities and also detailed how the college had removed all deficiencies that MCI had pointed out. The ministry then asked MCI to conduct a re-inspection by going to Chandrapur and submit a report before April 15.

But the MCI cited a Supreme Court verdict that observed that there was no need for inspection, if the college fails to make any of the five necessary requirements like the number of beds. MCI also took legal opinion from the additional solicitor general by allegedly misinforming him. All this led to the ministry rejecting GMC's genuine claims which otherwise would have been a big loss to 100 students from Vidarbha, officials said.

MCI INSPECTION: MANY QUESTIONS REMAIN UNANSWERED


MCI: THESE ARE THE DEFICIENCIES

1. Deficiency of Faculty - 41%

2. Deficiency of Residents - 44%

3. Out of 90 beds only 64 beds are available in surgery department

4. Demo rooms not available in ward area

5. College building is yet to be constructed, dean/principal office functions from hospital, staff room, college council hall

6. Lecture theatres and library is to be constructed

7. There are no books and journals

8. Staff is not available

9. UG Hostel not present

10. Resident doctors hostel absent

11. Nurses hostel are to be constructed

12. Residential quarters for teaching and non-teaching staff not there

13. OPD Registration counter - computer not working on day of inspection. Also no. of rooms for examination of patients (required four for all departments) are not available

14. Laboratory investigation workload is inadequate

15. MRD: It is located in one half of a hall; in other half there is a library without any wall or partition

16. Casualty: Disaster trolley, crash cart, defibrillator, ventilator not available

17. OT: Only three are available against requirement of four. Monitoring and resuscitation equipment are inadequate as detailed in report

18. Mobile X-ray 30 mA: Not available and AERB approval for X-ray machine not made available

19. Intercom is available but not working

20. Nursing Staff - 164 nurses are available against requirement of 175

21. College website not available

22. College building is yet to be constructed. Hence department of anatomy, biochemistry, physiology are not available

23. All teachers have been transferred from GMC Nagpur on December 9, 2014

24. No proper joining report is there and declaration forms are also incomplete

GMC: NO DEFICIENCIES EXCEPT THESE POINTS

3. Presence of additional beds in OBGY not mentioned in Inspectors Assessment report. Hence, total number of beds shown in assessor's report A-II is shown as 274 in the table instead of available 300 as shown in sentence above the table

15. Now complete hall will be utilized for MRD. Hence no deficiencies

18. a) New machine proposed this financial year and b) Sanction awaited

19. Sanction awaited. However individual phone lines are present

22. Equipments will be ready as per undertaking


DEFICIENCIES POINTED OUT IN ASSESSMENT REPORT

1. Playground and gymnasium not available

2. Capacity of teaching area in each department (30 students/departments required)

3. No proper boards displayed for various clinics

4. On the date of assessment OPD attendance/casualty attendance/indoor admissions are low

5. On the day of assessment operative works are low

6. Minor OT available but not functioning

7. Equipment not available in OT Block-Defibrillator/Multipara Monitor with Capnograph/Infusion Pumps

8. Static X-ray 500mA: Not available

9. PNDT Approval; Not made available

10. RHTC - No Government order has been shown nor it has been annexed hence not visited by Assessors. As per MCI norms only identification must at LOP inspection

11. UHTC - No Government order has been shown nor it has been annexed hence not visited by Assessors. As per MCI norms only identification is must at LOP inspection