MD Pediatrics de-recognised by MCI

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Feb 29: In the recent counseling of MD/MS/PG Diploma, Medical Council of India (MCI) has derecognized Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu for conducting Medical Degree course in Pediatrics from the this session.

Earlier there were only three seats for MD in Paediatrics in GMC Jammu whereas in GMC and SKIMS Srinagar there are total of 9 seats available for doing the same course.

According to the official sources, the Board of Professional Entrance Examination (BOPEE) has mentioned that that there are only three seats for admission to PG Medical Degree in GMC Jammu, whereas during counseling it was informed that there is no MD Paediatrics course here in Jammu, sources said.

“There is already a shortage of specialized doctors in various disciplines in Jammu and if this course is also disaffiliated by MCI then the day is not so far when the patients have to go outside Jammu for minute treatment” preferring anonymity said a doctor.

It is pertinent to mention here that three years back, the MCI had formally directed the GMC Jammu to complete the required minimum faculty and other norms or face a prohibition from running the course in near future.

But, no efforts were made by the government to hire the required faculty from outside or made other alternative arrangements.

Sources disclosed that under Article 370 the government has to do appointment on adhoc bases for six month of contract. In Jammu and Kashmir the lecturer has to go through thirteen year experience after which he is eligible for the post of Professor i.e. three year as Lecturer, five year in Assistant Professor and 5 year in Associate Professor.

It is important to note that according to the official sources, about five faculties are under the target of the MCI which include Neuro-surgery, Forsenic Medicine, Pediatrics, Psychiatry faculty and Cardiology as they don’t have trained manpower including teachers and infrastructure, despite investing crores in upgrading the Healthcare sector in past ten years.

These faculties are functional in two of the premier Medical Colleges of the state, Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu and Government Medical College (Srinagar), which are being upgraded to the level of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) under the ambitious Rs 200 crore project.

It is important to mention here that MCI had been regularly reminding the state Government to put in place proper faculties in various courses including psychiatry and cardiology at GMC Jammu. The psychiatry faculty till date lacked the post of Associate professor.

Minister for Medical Education R S Chib could not be contacted even after repeating attempts.