The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Uncertainty over medical seat allotment

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Friday, Aug 15, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Uncertainty over medical seat allotment

Deepa Kurup

State says it is unaware of MCI directive on admissions

BANGALORE: Three medical colleges in Karnataka have been on the Medical Council of India’s blacklist for sometime now. While the two Kasturba Medical Colleges (KMCs) — in Manipal and Mangalore — have been informed that only degrees issued in or before 2008 will be recognised, the Union Government has directed Ambedkar Medical College (AMC) in Bangalore to stop admissions immediately.

This statement is on display on the MCI website. Yet, the State Government maintains it has not received any Union Government notification or order. Nearly 150 seats were allotted to these colleges in June 2008 in the seat selection process conducted by the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA). There was no mention of this caveat in the second round, which was completed last week. Interestingly, top rankers have opted for government quota seats in these colleges.

All three colleges have been through several inspections conducted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the State Government. However, the MCI refuses to budge from its stand.

The recent order granting recognition to degrees issued till this year comes as a relief to the existing students who were in limbo until now. While there is no clear instruction to stop admissions to the KMCs, AMC has been directed to do so.

Sources in the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare told The Hindu that the colleges had been informed. It was in 2004 that the MCI first recommended derecognition. The Directorate of Medical Education confirmed it had received orders regarding the KMCs on June 25 this year, but the seats had already been allotted by then. However, no amends were made in the casual vacancy round.

Secretary, Medical Education, Shankaralinge Gowda, said he was not aware of the latest notices and was quick to assure students that in case admissions needed to be stopped, they would be re-allotted to other colleges, as had been the case in the past.

When contacted, AMC principal Stanley John said they had not heard from the Centre, though the MCI had cited deficiency in staff and clinical material. “Last September, we left K.C. General Hospital and started working with our own hospital. There is bound to be a lag period before things settle,” he explained.

The tug of war between the MCI and the 55-year-old KMC is longstanding and complicated. While the college has also been pulled up for shortage of staff and clinical facilities, its Melaka campus, which offers a five-year twinning programme in medicine between Malaysia and India, is a big bone of contention.

“The MCI says we are sharing faculty with the Melaka campus. However, we have separate infrastructure, which is permitted by the UGC and the Union Government. Then, what is the issue?” Pro Chancellor of MAHE H.S. Ballal asked.

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