Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has said that Medical Council of India (MCI) should accede to the requests and give priority to the State Governments for setting up medical colleges.
While speaking on the sidelines of the annual day function of Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital here, he said that only colleges having background of repute should be allowed to enter into the profession and those colleges should be checked who lack experience and want to start medical colleges just for the sake of profit.
“There had been instances where some un-experienced persons having adequate funds to throw around seek the permission of MCI for setting up medical colleges and simply levy heavy fee which goes as far as one crore rupees, for providing seats to the students. MCI should avoid permission to those who make medical colleges a platform of business,” said the Chief Minister.
Citing an example of a medical college in the State, he said that the MCI had given undue privilege to one of the colleges by allowing to fill 150 seats of MBBS in one go while the intake capacity of both Indira Gandhi Medical College and Dr Rajinder Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda were reduced drastically. This step motherly treatment should be avoided, and MCI in future should conduct surprise checks instead of prior notice to the medical colleges as few those who are in the medical business manage the affairs beforehand.
He added that the MCI should encourage more colleges in Government sector and keep a check on those involved in cheating and placing fraud papers of their institutions.
While speaking to the newly nominated Central Students Association (CSA) later, the Chief Minister congratulating them and stressed upon nominating the CSA through common consensus and not by showing muscle power and arm twisting as was seen in the HP University.
A high-powered committee has been formed to check and give recommendation on fee hike issue which would be considered by the Government and the decision on fee issue will be thought of thereafter and till the time, the students are requested to have patience and not to get swayed by few disgruntled politicians, he added.