MSc Nuclear Medicine: PGIMER to run independent course, refuses to renew MoU with Panjab University
Chandigarh: The future of the MSc Nuclear Medicine Course at Panjab University is at stake since the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) has recently communicated to the Panjab University about the institute's decision of not renewing the memorandum of understanding (MoU) for running the course jointly.
In the communication, PGIMER has further informed PU about the independent MSc Nuclear Medicine technology programme at the institute and in this regard PGIMER has already admitted students.
However, providing interim relief to the PU students admitted for the academic session 2021-2022 (ending in June 2023) the institute has decided to allow training for this batch.
Until now, PU and PGIMER had been running the MSc Nuclear Medicine course jointly as a collaborative effort. According to the understanding of this joint venture, the students belonging to the second year of the course used to undergo training at PGIMER.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that in an attempt to allow fresh admissions in the MSc Nuclear Medicine course, the Admission facilitation committee of PU had recommended the University for requesting PGIMER for an extension of interim relief.
The interim relief was introduced because the University's MoU with PGIMER was not renewed. As a result, the interim relief allowed previously admitted students of MSc Nuclear Medicine Course to undergo training at PGIMER during the second year of the course.
PU started looking for an extension of the interim arrangement as the the complications regarding the matter caused interruption in the admission process.
As per the latest media report by Hindustan Times, recently writing to the University, PGIMER made it clear that it will not renew the MoU for jointly running the Nuclear Medicine Court. In the communication, the institute also revealed the fact that the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) has agreed to approve the MSc nuclear medicine independent course at PGIMER on the condition that the joint venture with PU gets discontinued.
In the letter directed to the University, PGIMER stated, "If the joint course continues, the AERB approval for the independent course shall not be accorded as PGIMER will be running two parallel courses. Therefore, students may not become eligible for RSO (radiology safety officer) examination being conducted by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre-AERB. Hence, it may not be appropriate to sign the MoU."
Therefore, while the University is facing uncertainty over the chances of admission in the Nuclear Medicine Programme, PU's dean university instruction (DUI) Renu Vig informed the daily that the University is making efforts for exploring other options.
While commenting on the matter, a PU Professor told HT, "Nuclear medicine is a unique programme and PU is the only traditional university running it. It is a skill-based programme with almost 100 percent placement, as there is a high demand for trained manpower. The university should find an alternative to continue running this course."
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