No MBBS permission to medical colleges not having BSL 2 labs: MCI

New Delhi: Soon medical colleges not having BSL-2 Level testing Laboratories will not be accorded permission to teach MBBS courses as the Medical Council of India (MCI) has amended the Minimum Standard requirements for 50/100/150/200/250 MBBS admissions annual regulations to this effect 

The move comes in light of the growing coronavirus pandemic and the efforts of the apex medical regulator to empower all the medical colleges to have the setups to tackle the pandemic of infectious diseases.

Now, with these newly amended regulations, the medical colleges are required to set up Bio-Safety (BS) level 2 testing facility for infectious pathogens in the Department of Microbiology if they intend to run the MBBS course in their institutes. The rule would be applicable to all medical colleges alike, whether they are applying to start the course, or applying for renewal and recognitions.  

"Accordingly, (a) Medical Colleges awarding recognised MBBS degrees; (b) Medical Colleges that are in any phase of renewal (first/second/third/fourth/recognition); (c) Medical Colleges that are in the phase of seeking an increase in intake of MBBS; and (d) All applicants who have applied to BoG, MCI for grant of permission to establish a new Medical College from the academic year 2020-21; are required to comply with the above.

Compliance of the aforesaid provision of provisions shall be assessed during the assessment that may be due in respect of the above categories of Medical College. Further, where assessment is not due under section 10A or section 11 of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 the BoG, MCI may cause an assessment to verify compliance of the provisions of Regulations. 

The council has further stated that if during inspection, the MCI assessors somehow find that medical colleges don't have these labs facilities, no recognition will be given.

The amendment, which has been put to effect, was issued by the MCI BoG's Secretary-General Dr RK Vats clearly spells out the aforementioned and states:

Failure to establish BSL-2 Level testing Laboratory shall be construed as a violation of minimum standard requirements laid down by the BoG, MCI and would lead to denial of permission or recommendation to Central Government for withdrawal of recognition, if already recognised.

Earlier, the BSL level 2 labs were directed to be set up in the light of COVID 19 outbreak. Later, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India had also accorded approval to the amendment made to the Minimum Standard Requirements for 50/100/150/200/250 MBBS Admissions annually Regulations for the inclusion of BSL-2 level laboratory testing facility for infectious pathogens in the Department of Microbiology in All Medical Colleges/Institutes.

Read Also: MCI amends regulations to step up setting up of BSL2 level laboratory testing at medical colleges

However, now considering the need for these facilities to conduct tests of infectious diseases including COVID 19 and H1N1 flu, the MCI has issued the recent order mandating all medical colleges to set up these labs if they intend to start and run MBBS course. 

The amendments and the Gazette can be accessed on the link attached below:
https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/pdf_upload-130524.pdf

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported about the MCI order wherein it had directed all the government and private medical colleges and deemed universities to set up labs to investigate COVID-19 cases as per Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) guidelines.

Read Also: All medical colleges to have COVID 19 Diagnostics says MCI; issues guidelines