The Hindu : Lack of recognition, lost chances for Tiruchi medicos

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 01, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Lack of recognition, lost chances for Tiruchi medicos

By Feroze Ahmed

CHENNAI SEPT. 29. The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission has rejected all applications by MBBS graduates of the K.A.P. Viswanatham Medical College, Tiruchi, stating they are not registered practitioners.

The State-run college has not yet obtained permanent recognition from the Medical Council of India.

"For no fault of ours, we will have to waste another two years if the Government does not get recognition for the college immediately," says a student.

Over 60 students graduated this year. But, unless the institute enjoys complete recognition, the Tamil Nadu Medical Council cannot award these students permanent registration, without which they cannot practise as doctors or pursue higher education.

The students, who applied to the TNPSC for direct recruitment to the post of assistant surgeon (general/specialties) in the Tamil Nadu Medical Service, 2003, will now have to wait for a year before they apply again.

Looming over them is the fear of losing another opportunity.

The last date for applying for the All-India Postgraduate Entrance Examination is October 22. Under the circumstances, it seems, they will miss that deadline too.

The Director of Medical Education, P. Vijayalakshmi, earlier said earlier permanent recognition for the college "was expected soon".

It has been a month since then, and though officials say the Directorate is lobbying hard with the MCI, it might not be soon enough for the students.

The Tiruchi college issue is just one example of the plight of medical education in the State.

Over 60 state-run courses and several private dental and para-medical colleges do not have MCI recognition.

It took the Government 25 years to get permanent MCI recognition for five postgraduate courses in the Thanjavur Government Medical College, which was granted in May.

As for the Tiruchi college, the MCI earlier wrote to the Union Ministry of Health against granting recognition to it and the Tuticorin Medical College, owing to a "range of deficiencies".

The State subsequently took steps to rectify defects pointed out by the council. After inspections by the MCI, government officials announced that the colleges had been granted recognition, but it turned out that it was only a temporary status.

As per section 10 A of the Indian Medical Council Act, the Centre would grant annual permission to colleges, to be renewed every year.

The process would continue until the required infrastructure was created and permanent recognition granted.

Doctors blame the `not-recognised' status of state-run medical colleges and courses on Government's "prolonged reluctance" to adhere to MCI norms.

They suggest that the Government, for a permanent solution, start an MCI wing in the Directorate of Medical Education to monitor all government colleges and ensure they adhere to all-India guidelines.

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Lack of recognition, lost chances for Tiruchi medicos