JNU to establish Medical College, Super Speciality Hospital

According to the HT report, the proposal is for a 500-bed hospital offering super speciality treatment, including critical services in cardiology, organ transplant, neurology, and pulmonology, along which "non-conventional departments" with 50% faculty posts reserved for scientists.

The proposal was presented to the apex Academic Council on Tuesday, 17^th August, and the estimated cost of the project is Rs. 900 crore. It has been prepared by a committee that includes members from premier health institutions including AlIMS and NIMHANS. The document states that the proposal is in accordance with the JNU Act 1966 and the new National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

"NEP emphasizes multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary teaching and research... The JNU Act also focuses on expanding and providing access to medical and health-care research.... Establishing a medical school with a hospital will fulfil the objective on which the University has been established and it will be a stepping stone to achieve the visions of NEP 2020," the document states, as quoted by HT

The University proposes to establish the school and the hospital on a 25-acre land available at its campus and will offer undergraduate and postgraduate courses in all the disciplines. The admission to MBBS and MD courses will be done through the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET).

However, this proposal was not met without resistance. Two AC members, who wish to remain anonymous, confirmed receiving the proposal as a part of an additional agenda sent by the University administration ahead of the Tuesday meeting, and termed it as 'another attempt to change the character of the University.'

"In Delhi, there are several super-speciality hospitals and research institutes including AIIMS and Safdurjung. What is the need of it? We do not need more super-speciality hospitals. All we need to do is improve the existing ones. But this caretaker vice chancellor, who has no right to take any decision during his extended tenure, is making continuous efforts to change the character of the University. We will oppose this in the meeting on Tuesday," said one of them.

The JNU V-C was to end on January 26, but the education ministry on January 22 directed that he be allowed to continue in his position "until further orders". The recruitment process of the new JNU VC is still underway.

The plan involves hiring 259 faculty members and the total estimated budget of the project is ₹900 crore. Once approved, the project will be completed in three years, says he proposal.