Wednesday, June 17, 2015

MCI rejects govt proposal for two new medical colleges

MUMBAI: In a major setback for the state government, the Medical Council of India (MCI) has rejected its proposal to start two new medical colleges at Chandrapur and Gondia, while granting permission to two private colleges. It has cited the state's failure to meet requisite educational standards, including adequate teaching faculty and infrastructure, for declining the permissions.

The last state-run medical college was started in Akola 13 years ago. With BMC's medical college at RN Cooper Hospital getting the approval, the MCI's decision has left the state red-faced. The colleges would have added a crucial 200 affordable seats to the state's existing pool of 2710, including 750 in Mumbai. Nearly 1.89 lakh students contested for the handful medical seats in MH-CET this year.

Maharashtra education minister Vinod Tawde blamed the setback on the erstwhile Congress government, which he alleged sent an ill-prepared proposal just to score brownie points with voters. "The proposals were sent without meticulous preparation such as infrastructure, faculty or funds. The announcements to start six new colleges were purely political," he told TOI on Tuesday.

Tawde, however, said they have not lost hope yet as efforts are being made to fill up positions of associate professors and professors. "We have been given more time by the MCI. We are hopeful of starting the colleges in this academic year," he said.

The Directorate of Medical Education and Research said medical teachers from government colleges in Nagpur, Akola and Yevatmal are being promoted and sent to the new colleges.

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