Maharashtra Cabinet Approves Conversion of Two Medical Colleges Into Private Universities

The two medical colleges include NKP Salve Medical College, Nagpur, and Dr Vitthalrao Vikhe Patil Foundation Medical College, Ahilyanagar.

According to the NewsCareer 360 media news report, this Cabinet decision follows an inspection of these two institutions by the state's scrutiny committee, conducted in accordance with the National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines.

This development follows demands by private medical colleges in Maharashtra for greater control, particularly over financial matters. Some of these colleges had also been involved in ongoing disputes with the state government regarding fee structures and delays in scholarship reimbursements.

Lata Mangeshkar University, run by the VSPM Academy of Higher Education, will conduct programs in dentistry, physiotherapy, and nursing, and it possesses a 1,138-bed hospital. Meanwhile, Balasaheb Vikhe Patil University, sponsored by the Dr Vithalrao Vikhe Patil Foundation, has an 830-bed hospital.

Similarly, the management of Prakash Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Sangli, has also changed its status from a charitable trust to a Section 8 company. They have followed the path taken by Vedanta Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS), Palghar, which was the only private college run by a private company.

Notably, Mumbai's KJ Somaiya Medical College (KJSMC) has also applied to become a 'deemed-to-be-university'. Another institute in Ratnagiri, BKL Walawalkar Rural Medical College (BKLWRMC), could also receive 'deemed' status.

These proposed universities do not currently include medical programs, but there is a possibility that they will be added to the new institute in the next academic session.

However, its governing body has also approached the University Grants Commission (UGC) to establish a 'deemed university'.