BJ medical college Pune included in panel to assess autonomy for govt medical institutes
Pune: Maharashtra's Minister of State for Medical Education Madhuri Misal stated that the state government has expanded its high-level panel, constituted to grant autonomy to government medical colleges and hospitals, to include Pune's BJ Medical College.
“After Mumbai and Nagpur, Pune’s BJ Medical College has now also been included in this. A decision regarding autonomy will be taken based on the committee’s report,” said Misal.
This move gives revival to the long-pending demands for autonomous status for the Pune-based institute, and could pave the way for administrative and infrastructural reforms.
According to an HT Media news report, a panel was constituted under the directives of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to examine the feasibility of granting autonomy to key state-run institutions in Mumbai and Nagpur. Former Chief Secretary Jayant Kumar Banthia chairs the seven-member panel.
Meanwhile, as per the government proposal, this committee will formulate a policy framework that will encompass the Mumbai-based Grant Government Medical College, the Nagpur-based Government Medical College and Hospital, and the Pune-based B.J. Medical College.
However, officials stated that this review will assess administrative and academic frameworks, evaluate the need for autonomy, and examine potential benefits based on models such as AIIMS, PGIMER Chandigarh, and the Tata Memorial Centre.
Additionally, it will make recommendations regarding governance structures, including boards and academic councils, as well as the authority of directors or deans, financial systems, and terms of service for faculty and staff. It will also propose the necessary oversight mechanisms and legal amendments required to implement this autonomy.
Although the committee has been asked to submit its report within three months, after which the state government will take a final decision.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that a high-level committee has been constituted, as per the instructions of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, to prepare a detailed strategic framework for granting autonomy to the Grant Government Medical College and Sir J. J. Group of Hospitals in Mumbai and the Government Medical College and Hospital in Nagpur.
Former Chief Secretary of the state, Jayant Kumar Banthia, has been appointed as the chairman of this committee.
A government resolution regarding this has been issued by the Medical Education and Drugs Department.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that the objective of granting autonomy is to enhance the academic quality, research capacity, and healthcare services of major government medical institutions in the state.
