RGUHS evaluation: Medicos cry foul over mark disparity

RGUHS evaluation: Medicos cry foul over mark disparity 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 17.12.2024

Bengaluru : MBBS students of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) from batches admitted in 2018 and before have raised questions about the credibility of evaluation of answer scripts. As per the rules, evaluation is done by four experts, and the average of their marks is considered as the final score. Students allege that these four marks are often so varied that they lack credibility. When there is a disparity of more than 15%, the answer script goes to a fifth evaluator, and the average of the four best scores is taken. "Some of the marks will be as high as 70, while another could be as low as 10. How can the same paper have so much inconsistency when evaluated?" a student asked. 

A group of students approached the registrar on Monday, raising the issue. The process has been challenged in the Karnataka high court by various batches of students. For those from batches admitted in 2019 onwards, the system is different, with the best of two evaluations being considered. For the batches prior to 2019, the system has shuttled between considering the average of four, the best of two, and again the average of four, depending on court orders. “We're okay with the average of four or best of two. But our concern is that the university isn't addressing the basic issue where invigilators are giving extremely varied marks for the same paper. While a difference of a few marks is understandable, how can the marks vary so much for the same answer?” asked one student. 

“I attempted the same paper for the fourth time and failed by 1-2 marks. I lost out on six months studying the same paper at home. And every time we have to reappear, we end up paying as much as Rs 2 lakh in private seats for repeat exam fees,” said another student. RGUHS vice-chancellor MK Ramesh said there are around 3.5 lakh students, with about 12 lakh answer scripts for 38,000 evaluators. “It is only natural that a few students might have an issue. We're also engaging with the evaluators, giving instructions, directions, advice, and counseling. Just because one person got varied marks, we cannot denigrate the credentials of the complete system,” he said. "Every time we try to provide a solution, some will still go to court."

UP: Eight female MBBS students suspended at state-run medical college in Gorakhpur, here's why

UP: Eight female MBBS students suspended at state-run medical college in Gorakhpur, here's why

The suspension followed an investigation conducted by a nine-member disciplinary committee. The disciplinary committee was led by the principal of the college.

Edited By: Anurag Roushan @Candid_Tilaiyan Gorakhpur

Published : Dec 13, 2024 21:35 IST, Updated : Dec 13, 2024 21:36 IST

As many as eight female MBBS students have been suspended for three months at Madhav Prasad Tripathi Medical College in Uttar Pradesh's Gorakhpur district. As per officials, they all were students from the 2023 batch and got suspended over allegations of indiscipline.

The students were accused of engaging in factionalism and forcibly entering a fellow student’s hostel room, where they allegedly assaulted her on Wednesday night. The incident prompted an inquiry by a nine-member disciplinary committee, following which the suspension was imposed, stated Professor Rajesh Mohan, the college principal.

The suspension followed an investigation conducted by a nine-member disciplinary committee. The probe began when the complainant, a student residing in the hostel, alleged that she had been having trouble with her peers for the past several days.

"She claimed she was subjected to social ostracism, which culminated in the forced entry into her room on Wednesday night. A female security guard, along with other students, intervened to control the situation," said the Principal.

The disciplinary committee was led by the principal, along with Dr Naushad Alam, Dr CB Pandey, and Dr Ekta Dwivedi. The investigation was conducted under the guidance of Assistant Warden Dr Shagufta Shamil, the principal said.

Similar incident in West Bengal

In a similar incident in West Bengal in September this year, at least forty students from the state-run College of Medicine and JNM Hospital were expelled for six months following allegations of threatening fellow students. The decision was made during a meeting of the Extended College Council, as stated in an official document.

"Based on a large number of prima facie evidence, depositions by individual students and digital evidence, the Extended College Council decided to expel the following students from the hostel, hospital and college campus for a period of six months at least (pending further investigations into to the allegations against them) starting from today (sic)," the minutes of the meeting said.

(With inputs from PTI)

NMC unveils norms to spot fake patients during college audits

NMC unveils norms to spot fake patients during college audits

DurgeshNandan.Jha@timesofindia.com  09.12.2024

New Delhi : Every year, on a specific day, some hospitals affiliated with medical colleges admit healthy individuals as patients. This trick is employed to deceive inspection teams that come to assess the facilities for granting approval to establish a new medical college or to increase the number of MBBS seats in an existing one. In many cases, the hospitals succeed in their deception. Recently, there have been multiple recorded instances of medical colleges hiring fake or nonserious patients to meet the minimum standards required for grant of a license to operate or to increase the number of MBBS seats. 

Recognising this problem, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has, for the first time, issued detailed guidelines on how to identify fake patients. The NMC guidelines state that if the assessor observes a large number of patients admitted on the day of assessment or the previous day, it could indicate fake admissions. Similarly, if the admitted patients have ailments that can be treated in the outpatient department (OPD) with oral medications, those should also be considered fake admissions.

Another criterion described by the NMC to identify fake or ghost patients is admission without any evidence of investigations, such as X-rays, blood tests, etc., either before or after admission. In pediatric wards, the NMC guidelines add that fake patients can be identified if assessors find that most of the admitted children are playful and cheerful without any significant medical issues. Recently, such an instance was recorded when a medical college in Maharashtra applied to increase its intake of MBBS students from 100 to 150. The assessors found that all the patients admitted to the pediatric ward were “hale and hearty”. 

The NMC guidelines also say that admission of multiple patients from the same family, or those admitted in large numbers through preventive health checkups/camps may also be identified as fake patients.

It has been observed for a long time that some medical institutions/colleges indulge in admitting fake patients (people who do not require any in-patient treatment) to fulfil the requirement of bed occupancy, investigation, etc. “If the assessor makes the abovementioned observations in their remarks, it will be considered as indulgence of the institution in ‘fake patient practice’ which will be considered as a serious violation,” said an NMC official.

National Medical Commission mandates strict scrutiny of ‘fake patients’ before sanctioning new medical colleges or enhancing seats

National Medical Commission mandates strict scrutiny of ‘fake patients’ before sanctioning new medical colleges or enhancing seats

It has been observed that some medical colleges show people who do not require any treatment as ‘patients’ fulfil the requirement of bed occupancy

Published - December 08, 2024 12:29 pm IST - Bengaluru

Jayanth R.

The NMC has released the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) guidelines for evaluation of medical college/institutions 2024. 

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has ordered strict scrutiny of “fake patients” shown by the managements during physical assessment/inspection before sanctioning of new medical colleges or allowing increase in the number of Under Graduate (UG) and Post Graduate (PG) medical seats.

NMC has invited applications for establishment of new medical colleges intending to offer undergraduate course and increase in the number of PG and UG seats for the academic year 2025-2026. It has released the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) guidelines for evaluation of medical college/institutions 2024

What the guidelines say

In the MARB guidelines, the NMC has stressed the need to curb the practice of showing “fake patients” in the medical colleges. For the purpose of training students, a certain minimum clinical exposure of patients has been defined in the Minimum Standards of Requirements (MSR) criteria of UG and PG Board in the form of bed occupancy requirements etc.

However, it has been observed that some medical institution/colleges show fake patients (persons who do not require any treatment at all or in-patient treatment) to fulfil the requirement of bed occupancy, investigation, etc. The guidelines say that if the assessor notices this and makes a remark, “it will be considered as indulgence of institution in ‘fake patient practice’ which will be considered as a serious violation and it will invite punishment as per MARB rules,” reads the guideline.

Therefore, NMC has instructed all the assessors that observation as to whether a large number of patients were admitted on the day of assessment or the previous day is a must.

Further, it said that it should be examined whether such recently or previously admitted patients have no minor or insignificant ailments/problems which can be treated on Outpatient (OPD) basis with oral medications.

Patients who are admitted without any evidence of investigations like X-ray, blood tests etc., (before or after admission) or treatment which is generally done for admitted patients like intravenous fluid, injections, catheterisation, giving medicines etc should be noted. It should be observed whether in paediatric ward, “most of the admitted children were playful and joyous without any significant problem.”

From the same family?

Further, it stated that the observation of assessor/s on whether multiple patients from the same family were admitted and whether patients were admitted in large numbers through preventive health check-ups/camps is also a must.

The NMC’s guidelines also stressed that the attendance of the faculty and other staff should be reviewed from time to time. “The required number of faculties as mentioned in MSR guidelines of respective boards (UG or PG) should be available throughout the year and for any given period of time. As it is a minimum requirement document, no relaxation will be permitted except in special circumstances in the larger interest by following due procedures,” it added.

Will abide by rules

Speaking to The Hindu, Dr. B.L. Sujatha Rathod, Director of the Directorate of Medical Education, said that NMC is the regulatory authority and the State is the implementing authority. “Whatever the regulations are, it will be examined and put into action,” she said.

Admission fraud inRajasthan: 9 MBBS grads lose case,face bar from practice

Admission fraud in Rajasthan: 9 MBBS grads lose case,face bar from practice

December 8 TIMES OF iNDIA 8.12.2024

Jaipur: Nine MBBS graduates who allegedly used proxy candidates during their RPMT 2009 entrance examination have lost their case in high court against the order by Rajasthan University of Health Sciences (RUHS) to cancel their MBBS admission. RUHS is now writing to the authorities to prevent them from practising medicine.

 The candidates' legal representatives had informed the high court that their clients had completed MBBS and some were pursuing specialisation while others were working as medical officers  in Rajasthan and Maharashtra. "They secured admission on the basis of cheating. They did not appear in the RPMT exam in 2009 and someone else appeared impersonating them. We will write to all the authorities concerned to prevent them from practising medicine," Dr Dhananjai Agarwal, vice-chacellor of RUHS, told TOI on Saturday. Initially, 16 such candidates were identied, and RUHS cancelled their admissions in 2017, but the candidates challenged the decision in high court. Four of them

The court ultimately ruled against them, with Justice Sameer Jain pronouncing his order on Dec 3 this week. "Courts can cancel the admission attained by means of fraud and unfair practices, even after a lapse of a decade, and no extra-ordinary circumstances prevail in order to invoke the jurisdiction of this court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India," the order said. "The instant batch of petitions being devoid of any merits stand dismissed. No orders as to cost. Pending applications, if any, shall stand disposed of," the order added. 

The issue came to light when news emerged about 16 candidates allegedly involved in examination malpractices, leading to an FIR being registered at Ashok Nagar police station in Jaipur. A committee headed by an IAS ocer investigated the matter.

India doubles medical colleges, MBBS seats rise by 130%, PG seats by 135%

India doubles medical colleges, MBBS seats rise by 130%, PG seats by 135%

The government has reported a 102% rise in medical colleges with a 130% growth in MBBS seats and 135% growth in PG seats since 2014, boosting healthcare infrastructure across India and surpassing WHO standards in the doctor-to-population ratio.

The government has reported a 102% rise in medical colleges with a 130% growth in MBBS seats and 135% growth in PG seats since 2014, boosting healthcare infrastructure across India and surpassing WHO standards in doctor-to-population ratio.

India Today Education Desk

New Delhi,UPDATED: Dec 5, 2024 21:16 IST

In ShortIndia now has 780 medical colleges, up from 387 in 2014

MBBS seats increased by 130%, from 51,348 to 1,18,137

Doctor-to-population ratio improves to 1:811, exceeding WHO standards

The Indian government has reported a remarkable 102% increase in medical colleges and a 130% rise in MBBS seats since 2014, aiming to strengthen healthcare access and meet global standards.

India now has 780 medical colleges compared to 387 in 2014, reflecting a 102% surge, Union Health Minister JP Nadda informed the Lok Sabha last week.

MBBS seats have also soared from 51,348 in 2014 to 1,18,137 in 2024, a 130% jump. This significant growth is attributed to policies encouraging the establishment of new colleges and the expansion of existing ones.

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PG seats have risen by 135%, from 31,185 in 2014 to 73,157 in 2024.

STATES MAKING BIG STRIDES

Several states saw major progress in their medical education infrastructure. Uttar Pradesh now leads with 86 medical colleges, up from 30 in 2014, and has expanded its MBBS seats from 3,749 to 12,425.

Karnataka has 73 colleges, Maharashtra increased its count from 44 to 80, and Rajasthan rose from 10 colleges to 43.

Telangana, which had no medical colleges in 2013-14, now boasts 65 colleges and 9,040 MBBS seats.

Tamil Nadu added 5,835 MBBS seats, reaching a total of 12,050. Smaller states and UTs, such as Nagaland and Mizoram, opened their first medical colleges, while Telangana stands out with exponential growth.

INDIA SURPASSES WHO STANDARDS

India's doctor-to-population ratio is now 1:811, surpassing the World Health Organization’s standard of 1:1000.

This improvement is due to the combined efforts of increased MBBS and postgraduate (PG) seats.

The government’s initiatives include upgrading district hospitals into medical colleges and establishing new AIIMS. Of the 157 approved medical colleges, 131 are functional. Additionally, 19 out of 22 new AIIMS have begun undergraduate courses.

Efforts to tackle faculty shortages include recognising DNB qualifications and raising the retirement age of faculty to 70 years.

ED raid on pvt med cols

ED raid on pvt med cols

RohitKhanna@timesofindia.com  04.12.2024

Kolkata : The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday conducted raids on 19 premises across West Bengal, including seven medical colleges in the state, in connection with alleged quota corruption in MBBS admissions at private medical colleges. While absconding Trinamool Yuva leader Vinay Mishra is the director of a medical college, Malay Pit, a close aide of Anubrata Mandal, is director of another medical college.

Searches were also conducted at the Haldia residence of former CPM leader Laxman Seth. Two ED teams reached the Salt Lake BC block residence of a relative of an owner of a medical college. They searched the residence and took documents from the owner. Another team reached the medical college near Jadavpur in the evening. It all started after ED initiated a case based on an FIR at the Electronic Complex police station. Allegations suggest that fake documents were used for NRI quota admissions since 2021. Each of the seven medical colleges under scrutiny has 23 seats reserved for NRIs. These colleges charge between Rs 1.2 crore to Rs 1.7 crore annually as tuition fees from students admitted under the NRI quota. According to ED sources, cumulatively Rs 28 crore was mopped up by each of these medical colleges each year

Crackdown on fake embassy certs in NRI quota med admissions

Crackdown on fake embassy certs in NRI quota med admissions

 PushpaNarayan@timesofindia.com 04.12.2024

Chennai : Touts have been actively working to forge embassy and consulate certificates for undergraduate and postgraduate students applying under the NRI quota, Tamil Nadu health minister Ma Subramanian said here on Monday. The health department has filed a complaint with Chennai city police commissioner A Arun seeking an investigation and action against the candidates who submitted fraudulent certificates. Up to 15% of the seats in self-financing medical colleges and private medical universities are set aside for the NRI quota. These seats are reserved for students with NRI/ OCI/PIO status. To apply under this category, students must provide documents that show their parents or relatives (one of the eight categories, such as sibling, grandparent, uncle or aunt) are living abroad. 

A week ago, the medical selection committee discovered that eight MBBS aspirants had forged embassy certificates. Among these, four candidates were allotted seats in self-financing colleges. Additionally, 47 doctors submitted fake embassy certificates with their applications for various postgraduate courses under the NRI quota. “The candidacies of all these doctors were cancelled. Legal action will be initiated against them,” he said. At least half a dozen embassies/consulates of countries, including those of the US, Dubai, Singapore, Australia and Kuwait, replied to confirm the “ingenuity” of the certificates submitted by these candidates. “Producing a fake certificate is a punishable offence. An investigation is under way by the police to find out who prepared and issued the certificate,” he said.

Officials in the selection committee confirmed that they received fake certificates from doctors in 2023. “At least 20 doctors were made ineligible in 2023. We did not allow them to take part in counselling but did not file a police complaint,” said a senior official. Parents and counsellors said touts and agencies were calling candidates offering fake certifications for “a fee” up to ₹1 lakh. “My brother refused to encourage touts. But they told us  how many candidates have been successfully allotted seats in self-financing medical colleges and deemed universities. Everything happens over phone calls,” said R Murali, whose nephew is awaiting a postgraduate seat.

Student counsellor Manickavel Arumugam said the state could have stopped the practice if they had initiated action against students earlier. Legal experts suggest filing cases with the medical council for doctors who forged the certificates. “It is an ethical violation, and doctors can be debarred from practice,” said former TN State Medical Council president Dr K Senthil. 

HC stay on NRI quota forgery case stalls MBBS seat cancellation

Chennai : One of the four MBBS candidates, whose admission was cancelled for forging an NRI certificate from the embassies/consulate, got a stay from the Madras High Court, said health minister Ma Subramanian. While admission to three seats in two self-financing colleges was done during the stray round, the state is working to get the stay vacated, he said. An official in the selection committee said if the seat is vacated, they have to seek permission from the National Medical Commission and the courts to admit a candidate to this vacant seat, as the deadline for admission to the undergraduate medical council is over

Tearful adieu to medical students killed in road accident

Tearful adieu to medical students killed in road accident

Health Minister Veena George and others paying tributes to five first-year MBBS students when their bodies were kept on the Alappuzha Government Medical College campus on Tuesday. SURESH ALLEPPEY

Sam Paul A.ALAPPUZHA  04.12.2024 

A sombre atmosphere enveloped the Alappuzha Government Medical College campus on Tuesday as the bodies of five first-year MBBS students, who lost their lives in a road accident, were brought to the central library building.

The building corridor, bustling with activity until Monday, was filled with grieving family members, friends, teachers, and members of the public who gathered to mourn the loss and pay their last respects.

Devanandan from Kottakkal in Malappuram, Sreedeep Valsan from Shekharipuram in Palakkad, Ayush Shaji from Kavalam in Alappuzha, Muhammed Ibrahim P.P. from Andrott island in Lakshadweep, and Muhammed Abdul Jabbar from Muttom in Kannur were killed when the car they were travelling in veered onto the other lane and collided with a Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus coming from opposite direction at Kalarcode in Alappuzha around 9.30 p.m. on Monday.

Six injured

Six other students—Anand Manu, Krishadev, Alvin, Muhsin, Gouri Shankar and Shane—who were in the car sustained injuries, with the first three remaining in critical condition. The students were heading for Alappuzha in a rented car to watch a movie.

Following the post-mortem examinations, the bodies were brought to the library building before noon. Family members and friends, many in shock and disbelief, were overcome with emotion, finding it difficult to control their tears.

“We have only been together for about two months, but we became like family. I cannot believe this has happened,” said a distraught first-year student.

Ibrahim, one of the victims, had recently secured admission to the medical college by cracking the NEET-UG exam on his first attempt.

“We are all shocked. He was supposed to become the backbone of his family, but fate had other plans,” said a family friend. The bodies were later transported to the victims’ native places. Ibrahim’s body was buried at a mosque graveyard in Ernakulam.

The crash site was less than 10 km from the medical college campus.

The Motor Vehicles department attributed the accident to reckless driving by the student behind the wheel of the car. “Gouri Shankar who drove the car (who was also injured in the accident) obtained his driving licence less than six months ago. He was inexperienced. The car lacked an anti-lock braking system. When he applied the brakes, the vehicle skidded on the wet road and rammed the bus,” said A.K. Dilu, Regional Transport Officer, Alappuzha.

Mr. Dilu said the seven-seater car was carrying 11 people.

“The students had taken the car from an unauthorised rent-a-car facility. We have identified the owner of the facility and summoned him for questioning,” Mr. Dilu said, adding that steps would be initiated to suspend the driving licence of Gouri Shankar.

Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Health Minister Veena George, Fisheries Minister Saji Cherian, Agriculture Minister P. Prasad and others paid their last respects.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, in a statement in Thiruvananthapuram, said the deaths of the medical students had deeply saddened Kerala. Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan expressed his condolences.

Case against driver

Meanwhile, the police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) naming the KSRTC driver as an accused.

However, officials clarified that the FIR was registered based on preliminary information and it could be changed based on CCTV footage and witness statements.

MBBS student found dead

MBBS student found dead 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 03.12.2024

Coimbatore : A 22-year-old second year MBBS student, who used to spend weekends with her parents, was reportedly found dead on Sunday morning when her father went to wake her up at their house in Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore city. T Keerthana, studying and residing at a private medical college in Coimbatore, came to her parents’ house on Saturday night after visiting a relative at a private hospital where she had an egg puff and tea from the hospital’s canteen. Later she had parotta from a hotel near her house around 9.30 pm, her 62-yearold father, N Thiyagarajan, told police. 

Then she went to bed around 11 pm in her room, while her parents slept next to her, as per the complaint. On Sunday, Thiyagarajan woke up around 7 am and his wife an hour later. When Keerthana did not get up till 9.30 am, Thiyagarajan went to wake her up. He found her unconscious and rushed her to a private hospital in Thudiyalur. She was then referred to Coimbatore Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared her dead. We are waiting for the postmortem report to know the exact cause of death, police said.

NRI quota allocated unfairly to most sought branches: HC

NRI quota allocated unfairly to most sought branches: HC

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 03.12.2024

Jabalpur : The Madhya Pradesh High Court has issued notices and sought replies while hearing a petition alleging that the 15% of seats in the state's private medical colleges, reserved for NRIs, are only being allocated in eight popular courses and not evenly distributed, which is against the rights of meritorious non-NRI students.

The division bench of the high court, comprising Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf, issued notices to the respondents, seeking their response. The public interest petition, filed by Dr Ojas Yadav from Bhopal, stated that NEET prepared a merit list for NRIs. Private medical colleges in the state allocate 15% of seats under the NRI quota. Although there are 22 branches in medical colleges, the state govt allocated NRI quota seats to only eight branches, which are in high demand. Advocate Alok Bagrecha, representing the petitioner, argued that the excessive allocation of NRI quota seats in selected branches would affect the rights of meritorious students, as the number of available seats decreased. There are a total of 545 seats in the eight branches, with 152 allocated under the NRI quota. 

NRI quota seats should have been distributed across all branches. The process adopted by the state govt is completely illegal, the counsel said. The seat matrix of private colleges, which outlines the seats allocated to each category, was prepared in violation of the Medical Education Admission Rules-2018, the petitioner claimed before the court. Instead of the stipulated 15% for the NRI quota, 40 to 50% have been reserved in various branches. And, choice filling is being conducted without providing time for claims and objections as per admission rules. After the hearing, the bench issued notices to the respondents, seeking a response within a week

198 colleges mum on stipends get NMC show-cause

198 colleges mum on stipends get NMC show-cause

DurgeshNandan.Jha@timesofindia.com  03.12.2024

New Delhi : National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued show-cause notices to 198 medical colleges — 115 govt and 83 private — across the country over non-submission of details of stipend paid to undergraduate interns, postgraduate residents and senior residents. All medical colleges were directed to submit to NMC the stipend paid for the financial year 2023-24 following a Supreme Court directive.

However, officials said, the 198 colleges that have been issued showcause notices failed to comply leading to the action. An online survey conducted by NMC last year revealed 27% of PG students are not paid any stipend by private/self-financed medical colleges. There are 54% PG students who receive less than the amount paid to their counterparts in govt-run medical colleges. More importantly, the survey conducted among 7,901 PG students from 213 self-financed/private medical colleges spread across 19 states revealed 16% PG students had to return the stipend money to college management. After this, NMC, the apex body for regulating medical education and pro fession, directed all self-financed and private medical colleges to pay stipend equal to the amount being paid to PG students of state or centre-run medical institutions in the state/UT where they are located, as per Regulation 13 of Post-Graduate Medical Education Regulation (PGMER), 2000.

“All the self-financed/ private medical colleges are warned that NMC will take strict action for noncompliance of the provisions of the Regulations of PGMER, 2000 if any complaint is received in future,” NMC said. All medical graduates pursuing PG courses are entitled to a stipend. AIIMS Delhi, for example, pays PG students close to Rs 95,000 per month as stipend. MBBS interns are paid close to Rs 26,000 per month.

வெளிநாட்டில் எம்.பி.பி.எஸ்: இந்திய மாணவர்கள் தெரிந்துக்கொள்ள வேண்டிய முக்கிய அம்சங்கள்

வெளிநாட்டில் எம்.பி.பி.எஸ்: இந்திய மாணவர்கள் தெரிந்துக்கொள்ள வேண்டிய முக்கிய அம்சங்கள்

தேசிய மருத்துவ ஆணையம் (NMC) வெளிநாட்டில் மருத்துவக் கல்வி பெற விரும்பும் இந்திய மாணவர்களுக்கு ஒரு ஆலோசனையை வெளியிட்டுள்ள நிலையில் FMGL விதிமுறைகள், 2021 ஐ கடைபிடிக்குமாறு வலியுறுத்தியுள்ளது.

29 Nov 2024 11:46 IST

வெளிநாட்டில் மருத்துவம் படிக்கும் மாணவர்களுக்கான அறிவிப்பு

தேசிய மருத்துவ ஆணையம் (என்.எம்.சி), தனது சமீபத்திய ஆலோசனையில், வெளிநாட்டு மருத்துவ நிறுவனங்களில் சேர விரும்பும் இந்திய மாணவர்களுக்கு முக்கிய அறிவிப்பு வெளியிட்டுள்ளது.

முன் எச்சரிக்கைகள் இருந்தபோதிலும், பல மாணவர்கள் என்.எம்.சி நிர்ணயித்த தரங்களை பூர்த்தி செய்யாத வெளிநாடுகளில் உள்ள தனியார் மருத்துவக் கல்லூரிகளில் தொடர்ந்து சேர்கின்றனர்.

வெளிநாட்டில் கல்வியை முடித்த பிறகு இந்தியாவில் மருத்துவத் தொழிலைத் தொடர விரும்பும் மாணவர்களுக்கு இந்த தரநிலைகள் முக்கியமானவை. என்.எம்.சி நிர்ணயித்த விதிமுறைகளைப் பின்பற்றாத வெளிநாட்டு மருத்துவக் கல்லூரிகளுக்கு விண்ணப்பிக்கும் மாணவர்கள் தொடர்பான பிரச்சனைகளை குறித்து அறிவிப்பு வெளியிட்டுள்ளது.

முந்தைய பல எச்சரிக்கைகள் இருந்தபோதிலும், பல மாணவர்கள் இன்னும் வெளிநாடுகளில் உள்ள தனியார் மருத்துவக் கல்லூரிகளில் சேருகிறார்கள், அவை தேசிய மருத்துவ ஆணையத்தால் நிர்ணயிக்கப்பட்ட தரங்களை கடைபிடிக்கவில்லை என்று என்.எம்.சி குறிப்பிட்டுள்ளது.

இந்த நிறுவனங்கள் பெரும்பாலும் பாடநெறியின் காலம், பாடத்திட்டம், பயிற்றுவிப்பு ஊடகம் மற்றும் மருத்துவ பயிற்சி அல்லது இன்டர்ன்ஷிப் தொடர்பான NMC வழிகாட்டுதல்களைப் பின்பற்றத் தவறிவிடுகின்றன.

வெளிநாட்டு மருத்துவ பட்டதாரி உரிமங்கள் (FMGL) விதிமுறைகள்: NMC ஆனது FMGL விதிமுறைகள், 2021 ஐ நிறுவியுள்ளது, இது வெளிநாட்டில் படிப்பதற்கும் இந்தியாவில் மருத்துவம் பயிற்சி செய்வதற்கும் அத்தியாவசிய அளவுகோல்களை பரிந்துரைக்கிறது. இந்த விதிமுறைகள் படிப்பின் காலம், பயிற்று மொழி, பாடத்திட்டம் மற்றும் மருத்துவ பயிற்சி அல்லது இன்டர்ன்ஷிப் தேவைகள் ஆகியவற்றைக் குறிப்பிடுகின்றன.

பதிவு செய்வதற்கான கட்டாய இணக்கம்: மாணவர்கள் பட்டப்படிப்புக்குப் பிறகு இந்தியாவில் மருத்துவம் பயிற்சி செய்ய தகுதி பெறுவதற்கு அவர்கள் விண்ணப்பிக்கும் வெளிநாட்டு மருத்துவ நிறுவனம் இந்த வழிகாட்டுதல்களைப் பின்பற்றுவதை உறுதி செய்ய வேண்டும். காலம், பாடத்திட்டம், பயிற்சி அல்லது இன்டர்ன்ஷிப் ஆகியவற்றில் ஏதேனும் மாறுபாடு இருந்தால், மாணவர் இந்தியாவில் மருத்துவப் பதிவு பெறுவதிலிருந்து தகுதி நீக்கம் செய்யப்படலாம்.

NMC ஆல் வெளியிடப்பட்ட FMGL விதிமுறைகள், 2021, வெளிநாடுகளில் மருத்துவம் படிக்க விரும்பும் இந்திய மாணவர்களுக்கு தெளிவான வழிகாட்டுதல்களை அமைத்துள்ளது. இந்தியாவில் அலோபதி பயிற்சி செய்வதற்கு மாணவர்கள் தங்கள் தகுதிகள் செல்லுபடியாகும் என்பதை உறுதிப்படுத்த பின்பற்ற வேண்டிய விதிமுறைகள்:

படிப்பிற்கான காலம்: இளங்கலை மருத்துவப் படிப்புக்கான குறைந்தபட்ச காலத்தை பற்றியும் விதிமுறைகள் குறிப்பிடுகின்றன. வெளிநாட்டு மருத்துவ நிறுவனங்களில் பாடநெறி காலம் குறைந்தது 54 மாதங்கள் (அல்லது 4.5 ஆண்டுகள்) படிப்பாக இருக்க வேண்டும், அதைத் தொடர்ந்து 1 வருட இன்டர்ன்ஷிப் (மருத்துவ பயிற்சி). திட்டத்தின் காலம் பரிந்துரைக்கப்பட்ட காலத்தை விட குறைவாக இருந்தால், அது இந்தியாவில் மருத்துவப் பதிவுக்கு தகுதியிழப்பை ஏற்படுத்தக்கூடும்.

பயிற்சி உட்பட திட்டத்தின் மொத்த காலமும் 10 ஆண்டுகளுக்குள் முடிக்கப்பட வேண்டும். இதன் பொருள் மாணவர்கள் தங்கள் மருத்துவப் படிப்பை (கோட்பாடு, மருத்துவ பயிற்சி மற்றும் இன்டர்ன்ஷிப்) 10 வருடத்திற்குள் முடிக்க வேண்டும். காலம் 10 ஆண்டுகளைத் தாண்டினால், அவர்கள் பரிந்துரைக்கப்பட்ட பாடநெறி மற்றும் இன்டர்ன்ஷிப்பை முடித்திருந்தாலும் கூட, இந்தியாவில் மருத்துவம் பயிற்சி செய்ய பதிவு செய்ய தகுதி பெறாமல் போகலாம்.

மொழி: வெளிநாட்டு மருத்துவப் பள்ளிகளில் பயிற்று மொழி ஆங்கிலத்தில் இருக்க வேண்டும். பயிற்று மொழி ஆங்கிலமாக இல்லாவிட்டால், மாணவர்கள் இந்தியாவில் மருத்துவப் பயிற்சிக்கு பதிவு செய்ய தகுதியற்றவர்களாக இருக்கலாம்.

பாடத்திட்டம்: வெளிநாட்டு மருத்துவ நிறுவனம் பின்பற்றும் பாடத்திட்டம் NMC நிர்ணயித்த தரநிலைகள் மற்றும் தேவைகளுடன் ஒத்துப்போக வேண்டும்.

மருத்துவக் கல்வியில் உடற்கூறியல், உடலியல், உயிர் வேதியியல், நோயியல், மருந்தியல் மற்றும் மருத்துவ பாடங்கள் போன்ற அனைத்து முக்கிய பகுதிகளிலும் பாடங்கள் மற்றும் பயிற்சி இருக்க வேண்டும், மாணவர்கள் மருத்துவ நடைமுறையின் அனைத்து அம்சங்களிலும் போதுமான பயிற்சி பெற்றிருப்பதை உறுதி செய்ய வேண்டும்.

மருத்துவ பயிற்சி மற்றும் இன்டர்ன்ஷிப்: மருத்துவ பயிற்சி மற்றும் இன்டர்ன்ஷிப்கள் NMC வழிகாட்டுதல்களைப் பின்பற்ற வேண்டும். மருத்துவமனைகள் மற்றும் கிளினிக்குகளில் நடைமுறை, நேரடி அனுபவம் இதில் அடங்கும்.

வெளிநாட்டு நிறுவனம் பாடநெறியின் போது போதுமான மருத்துவ வெளிப்பாட்டை வழங்க வேண்டும், சுகாதார அமைப்புகளில் இன்டர்ன்ஷிப்களுக்கான வாய்ப்புகளுடன், மாணவர்கள் நோயாளிகளுடன் தொடர்பு கொள்ளவும் அவர்களின் திறன்களைப் பயிற்சி செய்யவும் முடியும்.

கமிஷனுக்கு விண்ணப்பித்த பிறகு இந்தியாவில் 12 மாதங்களுக்கு மேற்பார்வையிடப்பட்ட இன்டர்ன்ஷிப்பையும் முடிக்க வேண்டும்.

பதிவு செய்வதற்கான தகுதி: வெளிநாட்டு நிறுவனத்தில் மருத்துவப் பட்டப்படிப்பை முடித்த பிறகு, மாணவர்கள் வெளிநாட்டு மருத்துவ பட்டதாரி தேர்வில் (FMGE) தேர்ச்சி பெற வேண்டும். இது NMC ஆல் நடத்தப்படும் ஸ்கிரீனிங் சோதனையாகும்.

வெளிநாட்டு மருத்துவ பட்டதாரிகள் இந்தியாவில் மருத்துவம் பயிற்சி செய்ய தேவையான அறிவு மற்றும் திறன்களைக் கொண்டிருப்பதை இந்தத் தேர்வு உறுதி செய்கிறது.

எந்தவொரு நிறுவனத்தின் பயிற்சியும் NMC இன் விதிமுறைகளை (பாடத்திட்டம், காலம், மருத்துவ வெளிப்பாடு போன்றவற்றின் அடிப்படையில்) பூர்த்தி செய்யவில்லை என்றால், மாணவர் FMGE க்கு விண்ணப்பிப்பதில் இருந்து தகுதி நீக்கம் செய்யப்படலாம், இதன் விளைவாக, இந்தியாவில் மருத்துவ பயிற்சியாளராக பதிவு செய்வதில் பிரச்சனை ஏற்படும்.

பொறுப்புக்கூறல்: இந்த தரநிலைகளுக்கு வெளிநாட்டு நிறுவனம் இணங்குவதை உறுதி செய்வதற்கான பொறுப்பு மாணவரிடம் மட்டுமே உள்ளது என்பதை FMGL விதிமுறைகள் வலியுறுத்துகின்றன. ஒரு மாணவர் இணக்கமற்ற நிறுவனத்தில் பட்டம் பெற்றால், அவர்கள் இந்தியாவில் மருத்துவப் பதிவு பெறுவதில் சிரமங்களை எதிர்கொள்வார்கள்.

வெளிநாட்டு மருத்துவ நிறுவனங்களுக்கு அங்கீகாரம்: அங்கீகரிக்கப்பட்ட வெளிநாட்டு மருத்துவ நிறுவனங்களின் பட்டியலை தேசிய மருத்துவ ஆணையம் பராமரிக்கிறது.

மாணவர்கள் தாங்கள் பரிசீலிக்கும் நிறுவனம் அங்கீகரிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளதா என்பதை உறுதிப்படுத்த விண்ணப்பிக்கும் முன் இந்த பட்டியலை சரிபார்க்க அறிவுறுத்தப்படுகிறார்கள்.

வெளிநாட்டு நிறுவனம் மருத்துவப் பள்ளிகளின் உலக கோப்பகத்தில் (WDMS) பட்டியலிடப்பட்டு அந்தந்த நாட்டின் மருத்துவ கவுன்சிலால் அங்கீகரிக்கப்பட வேண்டும்.

தகுதி நீக்க பிரிவு: ஒரு வெளிநாட்டு மருத்துவ நிறுவனம் பாடத்திட்டம், காலம், இன்டர்ன்ஷிப் அல்லது பிற அளவுகோல்களின் அடிப்படையில் பரிந்துரைக்கப்பட்ட தரங்களை பூர்த்தி செய்யத் தவறினால், அது அந்த மாணவர் இந்தியாவில் மருத்துவப் பதிவு பெறுவதிலிருந்து தகுதியிழப்புக்கு வழிவகுக்கும்.

படிப்பை முடித்த பிறகு சிக்கல்களைத் தவிர்க்க மாணவர்கள் சேர்க்கைக்கு முன் நிறுவனத்தின் நிலையை சரிபார்க்க வேண்டியது அவசியம்.

வெளியேற தேர்வு: இந்தியாவில் நிரந்தர மருத்துவ பதிவுக்கு தேசிய வெளியேறும் சோதனை (நெக்ஸ்ட்) அல்லது பிற கட்டாய சோதனைகளில் தேர்ச்சி பெற வேண்டும்.

மாணவர்கள் அதிகாரப்பூர்வ NMC வழிகாட்டுதல்களைப் பார்த்து, மருத்துவத்தில் சேர்வதற்கு முன் வெளிநாட்டு மருத்துவ நிறுவனங்களின் அங்கீகார நிலையை சரிபார்க்க வேண்டியது அவசியம்.

PG medical admissions: 44 doctors submit fake certs to avail NRI quota

PG medical admissions: 44 doctors submit fake certs to avail NRI quota

PushpaNarayan@timesofindia.com 26.11.2024 

Chennai : At least 44 doctors have faked their certificates in their applications for postgraduate medical courses in Tamil Nadu under the non-resident Indian (NRI) quota, a verification by the selection committee at the Directorate of Medical Education has found. Half a dozen embassies/ consulates of countries, including those of the US, Dubai, Singapore, Australia and Kuwait, recently confirmed the “ingenuity” of certificates given by these candidates. 

In October, a list published by the postgraduate committee showed that 221 of the 446 (nearly 50%) candidates were ineligible either because they had not submitted adequate documents or because of errors in submission. “While some candidates were allowed to submit documents, the candidature of 44 doctors was declared invalid,” said selection committee secretary Dr P Arunalatha. “We will act against everyone who have produced fake certificates. We asked for legal opinion," she said.

On Monday, officials said the number of ineligible candidates was reduced to 114 from 221 after many candidates submitted relevant documents. More than 20 students faked consulate certificates in 2023, officials said. “If doctors forge certificates, it amounts to unethical practice. They should be debarred,” said Tamil Nadu Medical Council former president Dr K Senthil. At least five students serving their bond period in various govt hospitals applied for admission under the service quota, according to senior officials. “These candidates have also been made ineligible,” said a senior official at the Directorate of Medical Education. Two days ago, the under graduate committee announced that it would file a police complaint and initiate legal action against six candidates who had submitted fake certificates from at least four consulates. 

20% of in-service quota seats to be added to general pool Chennai : At least 20% of seats under the in-service quota in postgraduate medical courses are likely to be added to the general pool in the last few rounds of counselling by the selection committee in Tamil Nadu as there are not enough applicants. “This year, we have nearly 1,150 seats for the in-service quota, but there are just 1,094 applicants,” said a senior official in the selection committee. “Some of these applicants may apply through the general category, leaving no takers for nearly 20% of the seats. So, once we exhaust the in-service merit list, we will add vacant seats to the general pool,” officials said. Doctors' associations said fewer in-service candidates appeared for NEET-PG this year. “We don’t have enough candidates because there aren’t enough doctors,” said Service and Postgraduate Doctors’Association secretary Dr A Ramalingam.

SC scraps Punjab's NRI quota expansion, calls it a fraudSource: PTI

SC scraps Punjab's NRI quota expansion, calls it a fraudSource: PTI

September 24, 2024 19:10 IST

The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed the Punjab government's appeal against a high court verdict quashing its decision to expand the definition of 'NRI quota' for admissions in undergraduate medical and dental courses in the state. "This fraud must come to an end now," the apex court said.

On September 10, the Punjab and Haryana high court trashed the Aam Aadmi Party-led government's August 20 move to include distant relatives "such as uncles, aunts, grandparents, and cousins" of NRIs for admissions under 15 per cent quota for this group in admissions in state medical colleges.

"This is nothing but a money spinning machine," observed a bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.

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"We will dismiss all the petitions. This NRI business is nothing but a fraud. We will put an end to all this.... now the so-called precedents must give way to primacy of law," said the bench.

Terming the high court verdict "absolutely right," the court said, "Look at the deleterious consequences... the candidates who have three times higher marks will lose admission (in NEET-UG courses)."

The top court said distant relatives of a 'mama, tai, taya,' who are settled abroad, will get admissions ahead of meritorious candidates and this cannot be allowed.

"This is completely a fraud. And this is what we are doing with our education system !...We will affirm the high court judgment. We must stop this NRI quota business now. The judges know what they are dealing with. The high court has dealt with the case threadbare," the CJI said.

"Let us put a lid on this... what is this ward? You just have to say that I am looking after X ... We cannot lend our authority to something which is blatantly illegal," the bench said while dismissing the plea of the state government.

Senior advocate Shadan Farasat, appearing for the Punjab government, said that other states like Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh also followed the broader interpretation of term 'NRI quota.'

Moreover, the states have the power to decide as to how 15 per cent NRI quota has to be granted.

Out of total NEET-UG seats, 85 per cent seats in medical colleges are filled up by the states in medical colleges under their jurisdiction, the counsel, in favour of NRI quota, told the bench.

The bench said now the central government will have to take note of this as well.

A division bench of the high court had come out with an elaborate judgment trashing the state government decision to broaden the ambit of NRI quota for admissions in Punjab medical colleges.

The high court took note of the submissions that the decision to widen the ambit of NRI quota was taken to divert the seats which would have otherwise come to the general category applicants.

"Imparting education is not an economic activity but a welfare-oriented endeavour as the ultimate aim is to achieve an egalitarian and prosperous society in order to bring about social transformation and upliftment of the nation.

"Doctrine of merit and fairness cannot be sacrificed only because the students falling in the expanded definition of Non-Resident Indian (NRI) possess financial muscle.

"Capitation fee has totally been prohibited. If the admissions in the expanded NRI category to include non-genuine NRIs are permitted; the prohibition made on charge of capitation fee would serve no higher purpose, as the State/private colleges would be at liberty to reap the benefits by amending the provisions according to their whims, which means accepting it by disguising the process," the high court said.

The expansion of 'NRI' definition through the state government corrigendum is "unjustified for several reasons," the high court said.

"Initially, the 'NRI Quota' was intended to benefit genuine NRIs and their children, allowing them to access education opportunities in India. By broadening the definition to include distant relatives such as uncles, aunts, grandparents, and cousins, the core objective of NRI quota is undermined.

"This widening opens the door for potential misuse, allowing individuals who do not fall within the original intent of the policy to take advantage of these seats, potentially bypassing more deserving candidates," it said.

NEET-UG to transition to computerbased testing; oversight group for NTA formed

NEET-UG to transition to computerbased testing; oversight group for NTA formed

Manash.Gohain@timesofindia.com 23.11.2024

New Delhi : Union education minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, has indicated that the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Undergraduate (NEET-UG) is likely transitioning to computerbased testing (CBT). Speaking exclusively to TOI, Pradhan revealed that a consensus is being developed in consultation with the ministry of health, the National Testing Agency (NTA), and a newly formed third-party moni toring group led by former Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) chief K Radhakrishnan.

This group is tasked with advising and monitoring the NTA to ensure robust and transparent examination processes. The Radhakrishnan Committee, established in response to NEET paper leak al legations, has proposed several transformative recommendations. Key among them is a phased shift to online testing to mitigate security risks associated with paper-based exams. The committee also suggested a hybrid model where question papers are digitally transmitted to examination centres, and responses are recorded on paper. This approach would reduce physical handling of question papers, eliminating vulnerabilities at printing, storage, and transportation stages. Pradhan said: “We have already started implementation of the committee’s report. A monitoring group un der Radhakrishnan has been set up, which will continuously advise and monitor NTA. It will work as a third party vigil.” On NEET, the minister said: “The health ministry is the primary client of NEET and it is being consulted for its suggestions. NTA will conduct the test. 

We have two ways — paper based and computer based. Based on the consultation and deliberations with the ministry, the (Radhakrishnan) committee and NTA, we are in all likelihood moving towards CBT.” The ministry of education has also placed renewed emphasis on social science research to evaluate policies and their societal impact.

6 MBBS candidates submit fake NRI certs; cancelled now

6 MBBS candidates submit fake NRI certs; cancelled now

Pushpa.Narayan@timesofindia.com  23/11/2024

Chennai : Six MBBS-aspirants under Non-Resident Indian (NRI) quota category had forged the embassy certificates, and three of them managed to get seats allotted in self-financing colleges, said the state selection committee which handles medical admissions. The MBBS seats allotted to the three candidates have been cancelled, and now these will be included in the seat matrix during the special stray vacancy round scheduled for next week, the committee announced on Friday. It said the candidature of all six candidates was cancelled after ‘genuinity verification’. The committee sought verification of documents submitted by candidates to the respective embassies/consulates. At least four of them – Canada, Dubai, Riyadh, and Jeddah – replied stating that the certificates of six candidates were fake. Officials from the embassies also sought an action taken report from the govt. 

“We will be initiating legal action against the candidates. Their applications have been decl ared invalid,” a senior official said. Replies from a few other embassies/consulates are still awaited. Up to 15% of the seats in self-financing medical colleges and private medical universities are set aside for the NRI quota. These seats are reserved for students with NRI/OCI/PIO status. 

To apply under this category, students must provide documents that show their parents or relatives (one of the eight categories, such as sibling, grandparent, uncle, or aunt) are living abroad. “While processing applications before the first round of MBBS admission, more than 100 applications were made ineligible. This was because the ‘relatives’ were not as per the specification, or documents were insufficient,” the official said. The committee later emailed documents, including embassy certificates, to the respective embassies for verification. “We started the counselling because we have limited time. Three out of the six candidates were granted seats in two medical colleges,” he said. 

Two candidates were accepted into Madha Medical College and Research Institute in Chennai, while one was placed  in Karpagam Faculty of Medical Sciences and Research in Coimbatore. All these allotments have now been cancelled. These three seats will be added to the seat matrix for the special round of counselling, scheduled to begin on Nov 25. This will take the total seat tally for the special stray round to 60 – one seat in Stanley Medical College, six seats NRI/NRI lapsed seats in self-financing colleges, three NRI admissions that were cancelled, and 50 additional seats to Annaii Medical College and Hospital.

DME to act against six candidates who used fake documents for MBBS seats

DME to act against six candidates who used fake documents  for MBBS seats

The Hindu Bureau  CHENNAI 23.11.2024 

The Directorate of Medical Education is planning to initiate legal action against six candidates who applied for MBBS seats under the non-resident Indian quota using fake documents.

The medical selection committee, on its website, said three candidates had already been allotted seats. The allotment had since been cancelled. In a notification issued on Friday, it said the candidature of six applicants had been cancelled for submitting fake embassy certificates.

“Among the six candidates, three had got their MBBS allotment based on fake embassy certificates. The allotment of the three candidates is cancelled as per the rules in the prospectus, and these three seats will be added to the vacancies and included in the special round of counselling, which will start on November 25, 2024,” the notification said.

An official said it was routine for the DME to verify the documents submitted by the candidates with the embassies. The embassies responded saying the documents were not issued by them, a source said.

Docs flag removal of respiratory med depts from MBBS syllabus

Docs flag removal of respiratory med depts from MBBS syllabus 

NMC Justified It Saying It’s To Reduce Load 

Anuja.Jaiswal@timesofindia.com 22.11.2024 

New Delhi : Members of Indian Chest Society (ICS) have expressed concern regarding the recent removal of specialised respiratory medicine departments from the MBBS syllabus, as outlined in the Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) 2023 guidelines that took effect this year. The alteration comes at a time when there is an increasing prevalence of respiratory disorders associated with pollution and various pulmonary conditions in many parts of the country, especially in the national capital and neighbouring areas. 

Medical experts have criticised National Medical Commission’s justification for re ducing the academic load on MBBS students, noting it as an unreasonable stance, given the growing need for primary physicians to address the surge in respiratory conditions. Dr GC Khilnani, director of respiratory medicine at PSRI Hospital and ICS (north zone) chair, highlighted India’s position among the world’s most polluted nations. He pointed out that PM2.5 exposure exceeds WHO safety guidelines for over 99% of Indians, requiring urgent action to reduce pollution and strengthen medical facilities. The health consequences are significant, with respiratory and cardiovascular conditions worsening when the air quality index turns hazardous, particularly affecting vulnerable groups. 

The Poseidon study, published in The Lancet in 2015, showed respiratory symptoms constitute over half of all medical consulta

tions in India. Dr Khilnani stressed the need for systematic improvements, particularly in developing comprehensive respiratory healthcare infrastructure, to address pollution-related medical challenges. As the chairman of respiratory medicine, critical care and sleep medicine at Saroj Superspeciality Hospital and Jaipur Golden Hospital, and vice-president of ICS, Dr Rakesh Chawla emphasised how respiratory medicine departments are essential for diagnosing and treating complex breathing disorders while backing broader health initiatives. He cautioned that removing these specialised departments would severely impact patient care, particularly in managing tuberculosis (TB), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pollution-related illnesses. Such actions would impede India’s efforts to eradicate TB, he added.

Private medical colleges want to hike fee, move Madras HC

Private medical colleges want to hike fee, move Madras HC

The fee structure was maintained for 2020-21 by the panel chaired by by Justice K Venkataraman by taking into account the pandemic.

Express News Service

17 Nov 2024, 12:49 pm

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has ordered notice to the government and the Committee for Fixation of Fee for private self-financing colleges on a petition filed by the TN Self-Financing Medical Colleges Association seeking increase in the fee for MBBS for 2022-25 academic years by revoking an order passed by the committee in this regard.

A division bench of Justices D Krishnakumar and PB Balaji on Friday directed the respondent authorities to file counter-affidavit to the petition and adjourned the matter by two weeks.

The petition noted that the committee headed by Justice NV Balasubramanian fixed the fee for MBBS for 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20 as Rs 3.9 lakh for government quota, Rs 12.5 lakh for management quota and Rs 23.5 lakh for NRI quota by its order date June 6, 2017.

The fee structure was maintained for 2020-21 by the panel chaired by by Justice K Venkataraman by taking into account the pandemic. The association had sought the committee to revise the annual fee for UG and PG medical course for 2021-22 considering the increase in expenditure including salaries, delayed payment fees and other difficulties in running the institutions.

The committee fixed separate fee structures for government quota, management quota, NRI quota and NRI lapsed quota for 2022-23, which will be in force for three years, through proceedings dated October 15, 2022, it said. But, for the two state university private colleges, the fee fixed by the committee is higher than that of the self-financing medical colleges, it alleged.

The association said an average Rs 4.35 lakh has been fixed for government quota for self-financing colleges while Rs 5.4 lakh fixed for the same quota for the state university private colleges. There is disparity in other quotas too.

It sought the court to issue orders to quash the proceedings of the committee passed in 2022 and the consequential proceedings dated September 19, 2024 and direct the panel to fix fees afresh and allow self-financing colleges to collect fees on a par with state university private colleges.