NMC grants approval to 2 TN GMCs with 150 MBBS seats each

Chennai: Bringing good news to the aspiring medical students, the National Medical Commission (NMC) on Wednesday issued approval for 150 MBBS seats each to the Government Kilpaul Medical College and Thothukudi Medical College.

However, the apex medical education regulatory body has issued the approval for only one year, and official sources informed that NMC did not cite any reason for reducing the period of approval from five years to one year when the college is one of the oldest in the city.

Due to one-year approval from the NMC, these colleges will have to apply for approval again next year for admitting MBBS students.

While Government Kilpauk Medical College (GKMC) was founded in 1960, Government Thoothukudi Medical College and Hospital was established back in 2000. Both these colleges are affiliated with The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University, Chennai. Even though initially these colleges were given recognition for 100 MBBS seats, later the permission was increased to 150 MBBS seats.

Also Read: No NMC Recognition for 3 Medical Colleges, Tamil Nadu to lose 500 MBBS Seats

As per the latest media report by the New Indian Express, NMC has now approved one-year approval for these medical colleges and the Commission did not cite any reason for reducing the period of approval. However, sources at Kilpauk Medical College informed the daily that NMC was not satisfied with the implementation of Aadhar enabled biometric attendance system during the recent inspection. 

After the inspection, the Commission told the medical college for submitting a compliance report and after the submission of the same, the Commission called for a virtual hearing and consequently gave its approval.

Meanwhile, officials have claimed that there are many practical difficulties in implementing the Aadhaar-enabled biometric attendance system. Sources told the Daily, “There are no provisions in the system for professors to take casual leave also. Without analyzing any practical difficulties, NMC directly implemented it and made it mandatory. That is the problem in so many medical colleges this year.”

Last month, three medical colleges in Tamil Nadu lost NMC recognition for 500 MBBS seats. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) of NMC decided to withdraw recognition to these institutes for deficiencies in Aadhaar-based biometric attendance and footage of cameras installed in these colleges.

Later, Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma. Subramanian had informed that NMC had withdrawn its de-recognition of Government Stanley Medical College Hospital and the Government Dharmapuri Medical College and renewed their recognition for the next five years.

Officials told TNIE that the State will get approval for other medical colleges one by one, mostly before the MBBC counselling and BDS seats begin. The State is still waiting for the final approval for Government Stanley, Dharmapuri, and Tiruchy medical colleges.