Hire faculty or lose 100 MBBS seats: MCI to govt

Patiala

The Medical Council of India (MCI) has given the state government a last chance to appoint teachers to retain 100 MBBS seats in Amritsar and Patiala government medical colleges.

The MCI has given just two months to the government to hire faculty for both these government colleges. The government has given a written assurance to the MCI that the anomaly will be fixed by July end.

Ever since the MCI has increased 50 MBBS seats each in Amritsar and Patiala medical colleges, the government has not been able to meet its conditions.

This time, the MCI is in no mood to budge with just an assurance and has given an ultimatum to fix the anomaly within two months.

According to the sources, the MCI has told the government that “we can’t trust you since you have failed to fill the vacancies over the last five years”.

If the government fails to comply with the requirement, the colleges will permanently lose 100 MBBS seats.

The MCI had pointed out certain shortcomings, mainly the staff shortage, in the College Assessment Report released after the final inspection for the renewal of seats from 150 to 200 in these colleges in February.

During a meeting earlier this week, Satish Chandra, Additional Chief Secretary (Health), assured the MCI that the government would fill the posts of professor within the stipulated period. The meeting was also attended by two college principals and Director, Research and Medical Education.

Talking to The Tribune, Satish Chandra, said, “They (MCI) have given us two months to fill the posts. We have already started conducting interviews of candidates, and I think we will fulfil the requirements within the given time frame.”

They (MCI) have given us two months to fill the posts. We have already started conducting interviews of candidates, and I think we will fulfil the requirements within the given time frame. —Satish Chandra, Additional chief secretary (Health)