Lodha Panel overturns MCI decision, gives permission to 26 medical colleges

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Appointed Lodha Committee, overturning Medical Council Of India's decision, is reported to have granted permission to 26 medical colleges across the country, to begin their operations. These Medical colleges, were earlier denied permission by Medical Council of India based on infrastructural and other deficiencies found during inspection by the council.

This year, around 86 medical colleges had been denied permission by the apex council based on the inspections conducted so far.

In the month of June, providing second chance to the medical colleges who had been denied permission, the SC appointed three member oversight commitee, had granted amnesty to these medical colleges,  and have given them a chance to submit their representations to the health ministry

“The OC received 39 applications from institutions promising compliance by September 30 when the new session starts. The panel after considering these cases has granted a go-ahead in 26 cases,” a Health Ministry source informs

Tribune.

Now,the Lodha committee, set up to oversee MCI's functioning, has decided to keep the denial in abeyance, allowing 26 of these medical colleges to start enrollment for courses, reports TOI. The panel has sent its recommendations to the Health Ministry, paving the way for the establishment of these colleges, which will be added to the existing 400 .

Some of these institutes include

• Ananta Institute of Medical Sciences, Rajasthan


• NIMRA Institute of Medical Sciences Andhra Pradesh;


• Saraswati Medical College, UP;


• Sri Sakshi Medical College, MP;


• World College of Medical Sciences, Jhajjar (Haryana);


• Kerala Medical College;


• NC Medical College, Panipat (Haryana);


• Local Medical College, Saharanpur and


• Prasad Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow.

The committee has clearly pointed out that the permission is conditional and that it will soon revisit the issue, conducting inspections. Three major conditions have been laid down by the panel, namely

• These 26 institutes will have to give an undertaking to the MCI that they won’t remain deficient when the new session starts on September 30;


• They will have to give to the MCI bank guarantees worth Rs 2 crore each;


• The OC has reserved the right to inspect these new colleges before or after September 30 to see if they are complying with norms.

“If the OC is not satisfied, it has reserved the right to debar new colleges from admissions for the subsequent two years. This is the practice the SC has followed in granting approvals to new colleges,” a Ministry official said.

MCI Response

The decision of the oversight committee, however seems to have shocked the MCI, who had flat out denied permission to the said medical colleges.

"The decision of the MCI oversight panel can be dangerous for medical education. If any medical college is allowed to admit students this year and denied admission next year, it will be awarding degrees to students (admitted this year) from institutes found unfit by the regulators. The standard of medical education in India is already a matter of serious concern and such decisions will make it worse," an expert told TOI.