THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The decision of the previous UDF Government to start medical colleges in all the districts without ensuring proper infrastructure has boomeranged with the Medical Council of India (MCI) slapping a notice on the state for shifting the students of Idukki Medical College without obtaining approval from the medical education regulator.
In a notice to the government, the MCI said the shifting of students was a violation of norms and they should be brought back to the college immediately. It is learnt the MCI has advised the government to close down the medical college. Though some officers are for winding up the college, the government is keen to develop it.
According to the MCI, it was mandatory to inform them before shifting the students. Moreover, the students of a college can be shifted only if the college was shut down.
The students were shifted from Idukki Medical College as there was no facility to provide them clinical training. The medical college was struggling due to a shortage of teaching staff, operation theatre, speciality wings, wards, labs and other facilities. Apart from this, the faculties were also transferred to other hospitals in the state.
After admitting the first two batches, the college failed to obtain continuous affiliation for the medical seats. However, no student has been admitted to the medical college in the last two years.
Health secretary Rajeev Sadanandan said it was not a major issue and the government had given a clarification to the MCI. “The only problem is regarding obtaining clearance from the MCI for the shifting of students. We have taken up the issue with the MCI. There is no need to worry,” he said.
It is learnt the government has written to the MCI pointing out the conditions on which self-financing medical colleges are sanctioned should be made applicable to government medical colleges also. While applying for sanction from MCI, the self-financing medical colleges have to submit an undertaking from the government that the students will be permitted to use the facilities at government medical colleges till the new college develops infrastructure facilities.
The government in its letter said the students of Idukki Medical College have been shifted to other medical colleges temporarily as works to provide facilities are in progress.