34 new private medical colleges get Oversight Committee nod

New Delhi: The Supreme Court mandated Oversight Committee (OC) on Medical Council of India (MCI) has approved the establishment of 34 new private medical colleges for the current session with certain conditions, Rajya Sabha was told.

The Oversight Committee also approved seven colleges each for private and government, for increase in seats or starting of Super Speciality Courses, Minister of State for Health Faggan Singh Kulaste said in a written reply.

He was asked whether the OC headed by Justice (retd) R M Lodha had given clearances to many private medical colleges which were put in abeyance by MCI inspectors that found glaring deficiencies.

"The Supreme Court mandated oversight Committee (OC) on MCI approved following schemes or proposals of the applicant medical colleges for the year 2016-17 with certain conditions.

"Establishment of New Medical Colleges - - 34 private, 0 government; Increase of intake capacity - -7 private colleges, one government; renewal of permission - 30 private and O for government," the Minister said.

In August, the panel had slammed the medical education regulator MCI, saying it "disregarded" its directives by not conducting fresh inspection of medical colleges.

The Oversight Committee (OC) said it had resolved in its meeting held on June 13 that all applicant medical colleges, which were not given an opportunity to present their compliance to deficiencies communicated by MCI, be given an opportunity to do so by June 22.