300 MBBS seats at Stake: Jharkhand CM writes to National Medical Commission after admission to 3 new medical colleges stopped

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that Under Phase 1 of a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) had sanctioned three new medical colleges for the state of Jharkhand, and the state decided to set up these colleges at Hazaribagh, Palamau, and Dumka by upgrading the existing district hospitals. A sum of Rs 340 crore was sanctioned for the project.

Last year, admission of 100 students in each of these colleges was conducted and accordingly admission process was completed for the academic year 2019-20. Similarly, the admission process for the academic year 2020-21 commenced after the declaration of the NEET examination result.

However, the Commission directed that there will be no fresh admission for this year due to some infrastructure and faculty deficiencies.

The decision taken by NMC has come as a major setback to the state as it cost 300 MBBS seats for the aspiring MBBS students. Intervening in the matter, Chief Minister has now moved a letter with the Chairman of NMC to reconsider the decision to stop fresh admission into these three medical colleges of this academic year 2020-21.

"The State Government is fully aware and committed to fulfilling the requirements of NMC norms. However, certain finishing works in the building infrastructure and installation of some equipment and furniture, etc could not be completed due to the Lockdown imposed in March this year to control the spread of Covid-19. The infrastructure deficiencies as pointed out in the online assessment of the National Medical Commission will be rectified by 30th November 2020, positively," the Minister assured.

He further added that the deficiency of vacant positions of Senior Residents, Junior Residents and other Para Medical Staff will also be addressed by 30th November 2020.

Elaborating on the inadequacy, Soren said that they are facing certain constraints n filling up the vacant positions of Associate professors and Professors as eligible candidates are not willing to work in these backward districts of the State. However, the State is in the process of making certain amendments in the recruitment policy so that these vacant positions of senior faculty could also be filled up at the earliest.

"We do understand the importance of manning these senior faculty positions in imparting quality education to the students but the NMC must appreciate the genuine constraints that we are facing in this regard.. we also undertake to resolve this issue at the earliest," Soren said in the letter.

He further pointed out that these Medical Colleges are located in the aspirational districts, which the government of India is striving hard to improve the education parameters of these districts and NITI Aayog is constantly monitoring the progress of these districts on various parameters including education.