GMC principal to present college’s case to Ministry

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 20

Even as the Medical Council of India (MCI) had approved the increase of MBBS seats from 150 to 200 in the Govt Medical College (GMC) last year, the college has failed to end the faculty shortage.

In the last inspection conducted by the MCI at the GMC, it had noted a shortage of 11.6 per cent in the faculty. The MCI also had minor objections with regard to the non-centralised OPD and the non-working intercom system.

The college authorities had managed to get the MBBS seats increased by 50 after hard preparations and repeated rejections of the case by MCI. Now as the increase in seats has been approved, the MCI observations are crucial for continuing with the approval.

The college authorities stated that they have received a communication from Union Ministry of Health and college principal Dr BS Bal would be visiting New Delhi to present the college’s case on February 22.

As per norms, after the MCI conducts an inspection at any college, it submits a report with the Health Ministry which subsequently contacts the college. Sources at the college stated that the delay in holding the Departmental Promotion Committee meetings and inserting advertisement of vacant posts has resulted in shortage of faculty.

Dr Bal said, “The MCI teams assess faculty on the day on which it conducts inspection. If a person on is leave or an assignment, he or she is considered absent. Moreover, the orders of one DPC could not be passed as code for elections came into force.” He said even advertisements of vacant posts could not be issued because of this reason.