In a major jolt to the State Government, the Central Council of Homoeopathy (CCH), the apex body regulating homoeopathy colleges across the country, has asked four Government-run colleges of the State not to admit students before receiving its clearance.
The four colleges awaiting the clearance are the Dr Abhin Chandra Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Bhubaneswar, Utkalmani Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital in Rourkela, Biju Patnaik Homoeopathic Medical College in Brahmapur and Odisha Medical College of Homoeopathy and Research in Sambalpur.
In 2011, the CCH had directed the State Government to fill up the vacancies of faculties in two years, failing which permission would not be granted for admissions in these colleges. The situation did not improve in January this year during the visit of a CCH team.
However, sources said the CCH was forced to stop admission with the State Government taking no effective measures in addressing the inadequate faculty strength and infrastructure problems at these institutions during these months.
As per reports, the student intake capacity of each of the four colleges is 25 per year while 100 homoeopathic doctors are produced every year from these institutes.
While the guidelines make it mandatory for each college to have at least one regular Professor and one regular Reader in each department, these colleges are running without the prescribed faculty members.
The Abhin Chandra college, which has 12 departments, is running with 11 regular and 15 part-time faculty members against the sanctioned strength of 24 Professors and 24 Readers.
During 2010-2011, no admissions took place at the Biju Patnaik Homoeopathic Medical College in Brahmapur following a CCH order. Six departments, including anatomy, pharmacy, pathology, SPM and repertory, are now functioning without a single lecturer at this college while six Professors, 14 Readers and 15 lecturers’ posts were sanctioned for the institute.
Similarly, while the sanctioned faculty strength at the Utkalmani college and Odisha Medical College are 24, only 12 faculty members are working with a mere six being regular.