CPS Mumbai clarifies on its courses
Mumbai: Addressing the alleged misinterpretations and misconceptions regarding its courses and recognitions, the College of Physicians and Surgeons (CPS) Mumbai in a recent release has urged the stakeholders to rely on accurate information and refrain from spreading misinformation that could undermine the reputation of esteemed institutions like CPS.
CPS Mumbai issued the release in response to the recent articles that allegedly misrepresented CPS's standing and contributions, "leading to confusion in the minds of public, maligning the reputation of a renowned institution and misleading the legal proceedings."
Through the release, CPS has clarified that all its courses and recognitions adhere to regulatory guidelines and are aimed at advancing medical education and practice. Contrary to recent claims, CPS maintains transparency and adheres to rigorous standards of medical education. CPS courses are recognized by both national and state governments, facilitating clinical practice nationwide. At present, the state of Maharashtra has via it’s notification dated 15th March 2024 re-recognised 10 MOHFW-approved courses and via its order dated 14th March 2024, has recommended to set up a committee to re-recognise the other remaining courses, the release stated.
The release further mentioned that CPS conducts its courses through its affiliated institutes and hospitals following strict norms as per the MSR for adequate number of beds, infrastructure, equipment, and sufficient workload to give students good amount of exposure and experience.
Some of the institutes that are affiliated with CPS are medical colleges (Government/ private) and district hospitals. CPS conducts regular inspections of all the institutions that are affiliated with CPS to ensure the quality of training imparted to the students. The admission to CPS courses is conducted by the respective State Government on direction of MOHFW, Government of India, it further mentioned.
Furthermore, the release further highlighted that CPS courses have gained recognition internationally, with the Royal College of Anaesthesia, England, acknowledging the Fellow of CPS qualification as eligible for the Medical Training Initiative (MTI) in England. It has also collaborated with BAPIO, which shall provide an opportunity for CPS students to pursue degrees like MRCOG, MRCPCH and many such courses in the UK. This recognition underscores the quality and relevance of CPS's educational programs on a global scale.
The CPS Controversy:
Established in 1912, CPS Mumbai is an autonomous body that imparts Postgraduate medical education and offers fellowship, diploma, and certificate courses for medical professionals. For the Diploma courses, the tenure is two years; in case of Fellowship, the tenure is three years. After obtaining the qualification granted by CPS Mumbai, the practitioners are allowed to register themselves as specialists in the concerned speciality.
CPS courses have been facing major controversies for a long time. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that referring to significant gaps in the standards or institutes offering CPS courses, the medical education department of Maharashtra previously wrote to the Union Health Ministry asking for its opinion on whether counselling can be conducted for around 1,100 CPS seats.
Writing to the Centre, the department referred to the inspection of the Maharashtra Medical Council conducted last year and how during the inspection, MMC had found "severe deficiencies" in several institutes. In fact, the Central Government has also set up an eight-member committee to look into the matter.
The controversy continued further and then the Postgraduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) of the National Medical Commission (NMC) recommended to the Union Health Ministry to withdraw the popular DPB- Diploma in Pathology and Bacteriology, DCH - Diploma in Child Health and DGO- Diploma Gynecology and Obstetrics courses run by CPS from the next academic year.
After NMC, the National Board of Examinations (NBE) also offered rejection to the CPS courses by refusing to bring them under the aegis of the NBE. At this outset, States including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Karnataka were reportedly considering decreasing the intake for the CPS courses or discontinuing them.
Last year, the Maharashtra Government then de-recognised the courses offered by CPS and asked the medical institutes and hospitals not to admit students for any of the 26 diplomas or fellowships offered by CPS, Mumbai.
Ultimately the matter reached the Court and filing a plea, CPS argued that 10 courses which were recognised under NMC Act 2019 cannot be de-recognised by the State. Thereafter, in December 2023, the State filed an affidavit in the Bombay HC and stated that it would review its decision.
Thereafter, opposing the plea by the College of Physicians and Surgeons, which challenged the State Government's decision to de-recognise the CPS courses, former MMC member Dr. Suhas Pingle had approached the Bombay HC. However, this year, Maharashtra Medical Education Department issued a gazette notification on March 15 reintroducing the 10 CPS courses dermatology, midwifery and gynaecology, gynaecology, pathology, surgery, medicine, ophthalmology and diploma courses in gynaecology and obstetrics, pathology and bacteriology, and child health.
This month, challenging the three notifications that allowed the institute to continue its 19 medical courses, the former president of the Maharashtra branch of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and a former member of the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) approached the Bombay High Court.
