Inadequate Infrastructure: MBBS Students of Dr RML Hospital seek intervention from Union Health Minister

New Delhi: Pointing out the inadequate infrastructure, absence of college building and hostel facility, the MBBS Students of Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences and Dr RMLH recently wrote to the Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.

In the letter dated February 23, 2023, the students from the Centre-run institute mentioned how the students of the college were facing trouble because of hours long daily commute or expensive rented accommodations.

Even though the former health minister had announced that the college building and the hostel facilities would be completed by 2022, the construction for the college building has not yet commenced in 2023, the students pointed out in the letter.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences and Dr RMLH was established in 2019 under the special intervention of the Ministry and named after the former Primer Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. 

However, referring to the present condition of the college, the MBBS students stated in the letter, "At the time of the College's inception, the former health minister had assured that the college's building and hostels would be completed by 2022. Unfortunately, it is regrettable to inform you that the construction for the college building has not yet commenced in 2023."

Referring to the guidelines issued by the National Medical Commission, the apex medical education regulatory body, ABVIMS Students Council pointed out in the letter that the norms prescribe that at least 75% of students should be allotted hostels.

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"However, we have observed that only 35% of students have been provided with hostel accommodations. As a result, the remaining students are facing a daily commute of 3-4 hours, making it challenging for them to concentrate on their studies. Some students have had to rent flats or PGs nearby, which is beyond their means. We believe that providing hostel accommodations would be more affordable and beneficial to the students," stated the letter.

"In addition, the college lacks adequate infrastructure. There are insufficient Lecture Theatres for students, and there is no separate reading room for undergraduate students. There is also no examination hall and no place for students to play sports. The mental health of medical students is being neglected, and we believe that appropriate arrangements should be made to address this issue," it further mentioned.

"While opening new medical colleges is crucial for improving the healthcare system, we believe that the quality of facilities of existing colleges must also be enhanced," the letter added.

Referring to the inadequate infrastructure, the students urged the Union Health Minister to expedite the construction of the college building and complete it before the 2019 batch completes their MBBS course. They have also requested the Minister to ensure that the students are provided hostels as early as possible and the infrastructure of the medical college gets improved.

While commenting on the infrastructure of the medical college, students informed Indian Express that a three-acre plot of land, where the psychiatry department is running at present, was there was college was supposed to come up.

“In 2019, when the name of the medical college was changed from PGIMER to ABVIMS and an undergraduate course was started, the then union health minister Harsh Vardhan had promised that a college will be built along with a hostel but nothing has been done so far,” a student said.

The student further mentioned, “We have three lecture rooms — two in the main building and one across the road in the psychiatry department. Whenever there is a space constraint, our lectures are conducted in the auditorium in the main building. Even the labs have space issues.”

At present, around 400 MBBS students from four years are enrolled in the college. Among them, 290 students are boys and only 80 of them have been given free hostel accommodation in a nearby dharamshala on Mandir Marg, around 1.3 km away from the campus. Only 40 out of 110 girl students have been provided with hostel accommodation on the campus.

Alleging that students coming from Noida, Gurgaon and Faridabad are required to travel long distances to the campus a student pointed out how it affects their concentration on studies and mentioned, “Many are living on rent in areas such as Rajinder Nagar and spending Rs 20,000 for a 1BHK set.”

Meanwhile, speaking about construction work of the medical college, Dr Nandini Duggal, the Director and Medical Superintendent of RML Hospital told the daily that the building has been planned at the concerned plot and currently several approval processes are ongoing. After the design gets approved, it will be presented to the Ministry for its financial approval. 

She mentioned, “The administration is well aware of the issues faced by medical students and all necessary measures are being taken to expedite the relevant projects.”

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