The Hindu : National : `Correct unequal distribution of medical colleges'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 29, 2006
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National

`Correct unequal distribution of medical colleges'

K. Balchand

PATNA: The newly elected president of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Dr. Ajay Kumar and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar joined hands in making common cause over the discrimination in granting permission for opening new medical colleges across the country.

Soon after taking over as the president of the IMA Dr. Kumar, a noted urologist here, demanded that the Centre take measures to correct the unequal distribution of medical colleges and adhere to the recommendation of the Mudaliar Committee in this regard.

He said that Bihar had just eight medical colleges accounting for just one medical college for a population of one crore as against States like Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat which had as many as 40, 19, 29, 35, and 43 medical colleges respectively spread over a population of 1. 3 million to 3.6 million population.

The Chief Minister who attended the function, and felicitated the newly installed chief, hoped that the IMA and the Medical Council of India would do their best to take note of this discrimination and work to help States like Bihar and others which were not permitted to open new medical colleges.

Mr. Kumar said that the State Government would open more colleges on its own and also invite private players to cater to the needs of medical students of the State who were forced to go to other States for a degree.

The IMA chief was also critical of the United Progressive Alliance Government at the Centre in impinging on the MCI status as an autonomous body, which he pointed out, was against its proclamation in its electoral manifesto. He condemned the move as undemocratic.

He also demanded the constitution of the Medical Grants Commission on the lies of University Grants Commission for selection of medical teachers and granting them pay parity.

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