HC Slams NMC for Inspection of BK Shah Medical College During Admissions
Ahmedabad: Following an anonymous complaint, the Gujarat High Court, on Thursday, slammed the National Medical Commission (NMC) for its inspection at BK Shah Medical College & Research Centre at Sumandeep Vidyapeeth in Vadodara.
Further, the HC bench also questioned the intention of the Commission to conduct the inspection during the admission process, adds TOI.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that following a surprise inspection at the medical college last year, the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) of NMC issued disapproval of the college's proposal for the 2nd batch 1st renewal of 150 to 250 MBBS seats for the academic year 2023-2024.
Last year, during the surprise inspection, the Commission found several deficiencies regarding the teaching faculty, residents/tutors, additional faculty required for PG courses, bed occupancy, etc.
Following this, writing to the college authorities, NMC referred to the surprise inspection conducted by MARB on 21st December 2022. In the Assessor's report, the Commission referred to several deficiencies.
There was a 6.2% deficiency of teaching faculty and a 10.5% deficiency of residents/tutors. Deficiencies were found in the additional faculty required for PG courses as well in specialities like General Medicine, Paediatrics, General Surgery, Orthopaedics.
The report also referred to grossly inadequate bed occupancy with 31% deficiency and it also mentioned that the clinical data provided by the institute was much higher than the actual. There were no details regarding the construction and renovation work which is in progress at the hospital and no documents were provided in respect of MRI machine installed/owned by the hospital.
Recently, the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) also issued a notice pointing out that the matter was being considered by the Gujarat High Court, MCC advised the MBBS aspirants to make informed decisions in Round-3 of UG Counselling 2023 if they planned to opt for the concerned medical college.
Through a notice dated 05.09.2023, MCC also clarified that the admission of candidates to this institute beyond the approved intake by NMC of 150 MBBS seats will be subject to the final outcome of the pending matter before the Gujarat High Court in the case of SBKS Medical Institute and Research Centre Vs. National Medical Commission.
As per the latest media report by the Times of India, after NMC slashed 100 medical seats at the institute, 62 recently admitted students were facing uncertainty regarding their future. So, HC Justice Nikhil Kariel suggested remedial measures and said that the medical college should deposit an amount and NMC can carry out another inspection and point out deficiencies. He further directed the college to comply with the norms.
Meanwhile, the concerned 62 students, who got admitted through the all-India quota, were placed in the 'no safe' zone by the Medical Counselling Committee, and they too have approached the High Court.
Taking note of this, the Judge called for a solution to the situation to ensure that no student in the 'no safe' zone has to give up his/her seat. After considering the grievances of the college and the students and the explanation of the admission committee, the High Court bench questioned NMC about the timing of the inspection.
It was observed by the High Court bench that by carrying out such an exercise on an anonymous complaint, the Commission appears to be derailing the admission process.
“How many anonymous complaints do you receive? And how many such complaints are acted upon? I am telling you to not take it to that extent. I am putting you on guard,” the judge told the counsel for the NIA.
Questioning the intent of NMC, the court further observed, “If the last inspection was done properly, what action did you take against the earlier inspection committee? This means that they did not do their job properly.”
The matter has been listed for further hearing on Friday.
