With representation already made by the State Health Minister, the officials of the Directorate of Medical Education (DME) have crossed their fingers and are waiting for the decision of Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare regarding status on number of seats in the existing medical colleges and approval for establishment of two new medical colleges in the State.
The directions from the Central government are likely to be received in a couple of days as the Executive Committee of Medical Council of India (MCI) had met on Tuesday to hold deliberations on the fate of medical colleges of the State. It is on the recommendation of MCI, the Central government will take a decision regarding the seats and permission to be granted for opening of new medical colleges.
“The Executive Committee of MCI will take a decision regarding renewal of seats of the existing medical colleges and approval for the new colleges,” said Director Medical Education, Pratap Singh, adding, that the status will be clear within a week as decision regarding renewal of seats are taken by July 15 as per the mandate of MCI.
As far as present status of seats in medical colleges of the State are concerned, Singh said that the Chhattisgarh has only 250 seats for MBBS including 100 seats of Raipur, 100 in Bilaspur and 50 in Jagdalpur.
According to rules, a medical college has to seek approval of MCI for a specific number of seats continuously for five years from the first year of admissions. The renewal is not required after fifth year onwards for that specific number of seats.The Pandit Jawaharlal Medical College in Raipur has 100 recognized seats and was taking admission on 150 seats for past four years after getting permission for extra 50 seats. But this year, the MCI had given a dissent note after inspection due to which the college has only 100 seats at present.
Similarly Bilaspur Medical College has 100 recognized seats and has increased the seats to 150 last year. But this year MCI has not given permission for the additional 50 seats. Similarly, the 50 seats of Raigarh Medical College has also not been permitted and the college which has only 50 seats is apparently going to have zero session this year.
For new medical college proposed in Rajnandgaon and Ambikapur, the MCI was probably not satisfied and had pointed out a number of shortcomings in the preparations for setting up medical colleges. It had given time for completing the preparations as per the norms. The Executive Committee was to decide on the fate of these new medical colleges in the meeting held on Tuesday.