Six renowned medical colleges recommended to be de-recognised by the Medical Council of India (MCI) are likely to get a respite from the health ministry. While, the regulatory body had recommended the Central government for initiating action for withdrawal of Letter of Permission (LOP) and recognition granted to these colleges after the MCI team observed serious irregularities in these colleges, it is expected that the health ministry may give them some scope for improvement to them.
Sources in the ministry disclosed that the six medical colleges under the scanner, including Santosh Medical College, Ghaziabad, School of Medical Sciences and Research, Greater Noida (Sharda University), Saraswathi Institute of Medical Sciences, Hapur, SGT Medical College, Gurgaon, Rama Medical College, Hapur and Subharati Medical College, Meerut, are expected to get a lenient view. “Decision cannot be taken in haste. We have to think about medical students studying in these colleges before we take any decision. We may consider giving them a chance to improve,” a top source in the ministry said.
Earlier, in 2011, showcause notices were sent to these colleges, following complaints about inadequate faculty and facilities in these colleges. The MCI recently decided to recommend the ministry for their de-recognition after the council observed serious irregularities in terms of not having adequate faculty and infrastructure facilities as per the requirement laid down by the MCI.
“The BoG in their meeting held last year directed the vigilance department to obtain the salary statements signed by the bank authorities in order to ascertain the factual position with regard to the faculty strength and infrastructural available in these medical colleges. The council observed serious irregularities being committed by these medical colleges in a routine manner,” said the minutes of the recent meeting held by the earlier BoG. Adding, “the BoG unanimously decided to recommend to the Central government initiating the action for withdrawal of LOP/ recognition to these colleges,” it added.