Maharashtra Approves Ad-hoc Promotion to 406 Medical Teachers, State to re-apply to NMC for Lost PG medical Seats

Medical Dialogues had recently reported that the State had lost sanction of almost 107 Post-graduate medical seats from the National Medical Commission (NMC) due to deficiency in the compliance reports.

The State's failure to grant ad hoc promotions to teachers within due time reportedly messed up with the teacher-student ratio in Maharashtra-based colleges and resulting in losing seats. Almost 350 such faculty members were waiting to get their ad-hoc promotion letters.

The number of PG medical seats mainly depends upon the number of teachers available at an institution, and especially upon the teacher-student ratio. The norms mention a teacher-student ratio of 1:3 for a professor, 1:2 for an associate professor, and 1:1 for a lecturer. However, for the last eight months, the teachers in the State didn't receive continuation/promotion letters, resulting in reduced intake capacity during the inspection by NMC, erstwhile Medical Council of India (MCI).

Also Read: 350 Faculty awaiting Ad hoc Promotion: 107 PG Medical Seats in Maharashtra Failed to get Sanctioned

The Hitavada in a recent media report added that among the total number of 107 lost seats, Vidarbha alone set to lose 15 seats, including 9 in Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH), two seats at Government Medical College, Akola, and 4 seats in Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Medical College, Amravati. Among the 9 seats in IGGMCH, 6 PG Medicine seats, and 3 Opthalmology seats would be lost. 

Medical Dialogues had earlier mentioned that MUHS wrote to the State Medical Education and Drugs Department on this issue on April 29 and urged before the government for making teachers available especially in those colleges where seats got reduced due to unsatisfactory teacher-student ratio.

The MUHS letter directed to the Director of Medical Education stated, "As per the state Government directives the university has finalised seat matrix of PG seats for admission process o academic year 2021-22 as per the information furnished by the respective colleges. The PG seats few Government colleges, corporation and private medical colleges are not permitted to be filled for academic year 2021-22 by the National Medical Commission (NMC) by pointing out certain deficiencies to the National Medical Commission for its consideration. However there is no further communication from the NMC to regularise the PG seats," Hitavada has reported.

"There is already an acute shortage of medical professionals in this current pandemic. Against that backdrop if PG seats are decreased it would affect adversely to the state. Due to shortage of PG teachers, certain PG seats at Government, Corporation medical colleges need to be deducted in view of teachers: students ratio guidelines of NMC," further added the letter.

Meanwhile, the daily further mentioned that Shekhar Sawarbandhe, ex-Deputy Mayor further alleged this action, on part of NMC, to be deliberate as the medical students are working 24 hours in the State, whereas the rest of the country is reeling under acute shortage of manpower amidst the Coronavirus pandemic.

"Last year, in 2020, there were 4,922 seats available for students to get admission in Maharashtra by passing the PG NEET examination," he told the Hitavada.

Also Read: MUHS issues notice on Online Submission of Title, Synopsis of Dissertation for PG Nursing students

As per the latest media report by the Times of India, the promotion of many teachers was pending for the last 8-10 months due to administrative reasons. Now, the promotion of these 406 teachers has come as a blessing for PG medical aspirants, as now the State can re-apply for the lost seats.

The Representatives of Maharashtra State Medical Teachers' Association has welcomed the move. On the other hand, the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences in a statement said the seats are not reduced, and the colleges will write to the NMC with the compliance report.

An official has further told the daily that the admissions would not be affected as NEET-PG has been postponed till August 31.