Five new GMERS colleges get LoP from NMC

Ahmedabad: The medical aspirants in Gujarat has a reason to celebrate as the National Medical Commission (NMC) has granted Letters of Permission (LoP) to begin five new medical colleges under the Gujarat Medical Education and Research Society (GMERS) in Godhra, Porbandar, Morbi, Navsari, Rajpipla.

Although this is undoubtedly a big reason for the medical aspirants to celebrate, the problem is that the nod for these new medical colleges have come on the basis of dummy teachers since none of them have the Class-I doctors-cum-medical teachers till now.

In fact, all the 272 doctors who have been currently posted in the new medical colleges had been transferred from the existing eight MCHs.

Such a nod has come from NMC, the Apex medical education regulatory body since the Commission conducted the inspection on a virtual medium. Although the virtual inspection had initiated during the Covid-19 pandemic, NMC continued with it even after the pandemic was over.

Also Read: GMERS 3rd year MBBS student jumps off hostel terrace, dies

As per the latest media report by Ahmedabad Mirror, NMC conducted virtual inspection at GMERS Rajpipla MCH. The confirmation in this regard has come from the in-charge dean of the medical college, Dr Ashish Shah.

In case of GMERS Sola MCH as well, the NMC had conducted a virual inspection on July 29 and 30. Therefore, the Commission could not get a headcount of all the medical teachers serving at Sola.

Around 24 medical teachers and 5 tutors had been transferred from Sola MCH to two of the new GMERS medical colleges in the middle of the inspection on July 29. Although CEO Dr. Bipin Nayak had transferred the faculties, their transfer orders were only implemented on July 30.

While commenting on the issue, the Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Health, Manoj Agarwal told the daily, "We have been very transparent with the NMC and have informed them that doctors have been transferred temporarily, while the ad hoc recruitment is underway."

When he was questioned about the fact that less than half of the faculties are joining GMERS after each of the recruitment drives, the ACS added, "That may be true for the past, but this time we are going for three-year ad hoc recruitment with the chance of permanent job with a GPSC-equivalent exam that will be taken in the near future. We hope for a good number of appointments this year."

Meanwhile, a senior health department official said in this regard, "GMERS recruitment should have been carried out earlier if admission intake was to start in 2022-23. More so since these new colleges were to be started last year itself. Now several doctors have faced transfers due to the state government's dismal planning."

The daily adds that on the same day when NMC gave its nod for the new medical colleges, several videos claimed that there were dummy patients present at GMERS Rajpipla MCH in the form of female nursing students.

While commenting on the issue ACS Agarwal added, "We are still investigating the matter. There was no reason for dummy patients to be there in the hospital. I can say more only after we get more details. I have sought a report from the Medical Superintendent."

Also Read: Gujarat: 112 Doctors of GMERS transferred to Porbandar, Godhra Medical College