Set up BSL labs before inspection or lose MBBS permission: MCI issues yet another warning to medical colleges

The MCI pointed out that the requirements are required to be met before the inspection which is due to happen anytime in the coming months.

The warning to this effect was issued via a recent notice the MCI BoG's Secretary-General Dr RK Vats clearly spelling out the compulsion to the medical institutes. It alerted the medical colleges to comply with the amended 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.

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

In the event of non-availability of such facility, the BoG MCI shall be constrained to revoke the permission in respect of courses offered by your College and/or recommend to the Central Govt. for withdrawal of recognition of your college.

While we have been reminding about the need of establishment of BSL-2 Lab with RT-PCR facility time and again, it has been observed that many colleges are yet to establish such labs as provided in the MSR. Please note that as per Regulations of the Council, the above requirements are mandatory even if there is an existing facility of TruNAT, CBNAAT or Gene Expert.

On the part of fulfilling the criteria prior to the MCI inspection, the notice read

Therefore, it is once again urged upon all the Medical Colleges to set up BSL-2 level laboratory forthwith. The BoG-MCI may at anytime carry out an assessment to verify the availability of such a facility in your College.

The MCI also asked the mentor institute to conduct the necessary inspection to ensure that these colleges have the BSL-2 testing labs in palce.

Such assessments may also be carried out by the Mentor Institutes i.e All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, King George Medical University(PGIMER), North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), National Institute of Mental Health and Sciences (NIMHANS), Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology (SCTIMST), Armed Forces of Medical Sciences(AFMC), Nizam Institutes of Medical Sciences (NIMS) Telangana.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that medical colleges not having BSL-2 Level testing Laboratories will not be accorded permission to teach MBBS courses as the MCI had amended the Minimum Standard requirements for 50/100/150/200/250 MBBS admissions annual regulations to this effect

The move came 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.

Read Also: No MBBS Permission To Medical Colleges Not Having BSL 2 Labs: MCI

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

The amendments and the Gazette can be accessed on the link attached below:

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/pdf_upload-130524.pdf

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

For official notice, click on the following link:

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/pdf_upload-131405.pdf