Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Mar 10: Due to alleged mismanagement at top level and failure of head of the institution, uncertainty looms large over an awaited decision by Medical Council of India for increasing number of PG seats in Government Medical College Jammu from the current session in light of revised student-teacher ratio.
Even as the MCI has not formally rejected the proposal so far, authoritative sources told the Excelsior that there are remote chances of approval for the enhancement of PG seats as the requisite information was not provided in the application format despite a second opportunity provided for the same.
The GMC Jammu missed the first deadline of February 15 for responding to the MCI offer and after a second opportunity was granted, incomplete information was submitted in a hurriedly manner on February 20, which was last date for the same, sources said while pointing towards non-seriousness of the concerned authorities towards this one time measure.
Further, sources added, the height of irresponsible approach can be gauged from the fact that even after MCI provided an opportunity to GMC Jammu for rectifying its mistake and once again submit required information on the modified format by March 8, Principal of GMC Jammu did not feel it necessary to personally visit the Medical Council office for a follow up and clarifications, if required.
As the MCI has taken a serious notice of the management failure in submitting required information, there are apprehensions that non-seriousness of the concerned authorities may cause institutional loss to the GMC Jammu in respect of PG seats, sources explained.
On the other hand, the MCI has accorded its nod for increasing 28 PG seats in GMC Srinagar for the current academic session and the institution is expecting approval for 20 more seats in next two-three days.
Pertinent to mention that subject to revised student-teacher ratio, the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare had requested MCI that in Government Medical Colleges in the Departments of Medicines, Surgery and OBG, which are already running PG courses, minimum of 6 PG seats and 4 PG seats in all other Clinical Departments may be granted effective from academic session 2017-18 as one time measure.
The increase in number of PG seats was offered following amendment in Clause 12(1) of the `Postgraduate Medical Education Regulation, 2000′ vide notification dated 31-01-2017 for revision of teacher student ratio. As per the amendment, the students teacher ratio in public funded Government Medical Colleges, was revised to 1: 3 for Professor and 1:2 for Associate Professor.
Earlier, a Professor could take only one PG student and Associate Professor was also allowed one PG student. However, the relaxation has been extended for Government funded Medical Colleges only and would be applicable to all Clinical subjects.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India had dispatched a letter to the Secretary Health and Medical Education on February 8, 2017 with the intention of granting more PG Seats with effect from academic session 2017-18 as one time measure.
The concerned Secretary was requested to furnish the requisite information on the availability of faculty to facilitate the decision of granting more PG seats and this information was sought to be delivered to the MCI by February 15, 2017, with the request that the matter may be accorded the top most priority.
Similarly, on February 9, 2017, Medical Council of India also dispatched letters to the Dean/Principal all Government Medical Colleges, the Director all PG institutes and the Director Medical Education on the same subject and the information as per the performa was sought latest by February 15, 2017 preferably by e-mail as well as by post to enable the MCI to take further necessary action in the matter.
As the State Government failed to respond by February 15, 2017, the final reminder marked as `Most Urgent’, was dispatched on February 16, 2017, indicating that the desired information has not reached the MCI office within the stipulated time and hence the final opportunity of submitting the required information (in the Performa) on or before February 20, 2017 was granted by the MCI.
However, after submitting the ‘incomplete’ information on last date, i.e February 20, the concerned authorities did not follow up the case and it was only after some MD aspirant approached the Commissioner/Secretary Hea-lth and Medical Education seeking his personal intervention into the matter that an opportunity was provided to GMC Jammu for freshly furnishing the requisite details by or before March 8.
And once again, like previous time, the submitted information turned out to be incomplete as some documents were not carrying signature of the GMC Principal, sources said and added that even as a specimen of the required signatures was scanned and immediately e-mailed to the MCI, the Medical Council authorities have taken a serious note of the non-serious approach of the Principal and kept its decision reserved on enhancing number of PG seats for GMC Jammu.
Though the GMC Jammu Principal Dr Zahid Geelani was suggested to personally visit the MCI office for submitting the required details, so that any confusion on the information may be clarified on the spot, the officer did not go for the reasons best known to him.
Despite repeated attempts to approach the GMC Principal, Dr Zahid Geelani did not respond to the telephone calls made by this scribe.
However, the Minister for Health and Medical Education, Bali Bhagat was still hopeful of a positive response by the MCI and he told the Excelsior that a decision on increase in number of seats was expected to be taken by March 14, the date of commencement of the PG counseling for the session 2017-18.
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