6150 MBBS seats were denied in 2017-18: Health Minister informs parliament

New Delhi: A total of 6150 MBBS seats were lost as the Medical Council of India/Central government did not give renewal permission/recognition to around 54 medical colleges in the year 2017-18. A detailed response to this effect was given by Minister of State (Health and Family Welfare), Sh Ashwini Kumar Choubey through a written reply in Lok Sabha, whereby the minister provided the details of denial to various medical colleges across the country.

As per the Provisions of Indian Medical Council (IMC) Act 1956 and Regulations made thereunder, permission for establishment of a Medical College is granted initially for a period of one year. The permitted medical colleges have to get yearly renewal permission till the first batch of students appear in final year examination and the course is recognized. For this purpose the MCI conducts yearly inspection of the colleges and makes its recommendation to the Central Government. Colleges found deficient in terms of faculty, residents, clinical material and other facilities for proper functioning of the medical college and for offering minimum standard of medical education are not given renewal permission/recognition. 54 Medical Colleges were not granted renewal permission for the year 2017-18. State/UT wise & College wise list of such Colleges including those in Andhra Pradesh is given below:

Further, in cases where the State Government withdraws Essentiality Certificate earlier granted to a College, such College is ordered to be closed and the students in the College are allowed to be shifted to other Colleges of the State as proposed by the concerned State Government. During the year 2017 students of three Medical Colleges namely (i) Gian Sagar Medical College & Hospital, Patiala (Punjab), (ii) Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Mayani, Satara (Maharashtra) and Chintpurni Medical College & Hospital, Pathankot (Punjab) were permitted to be shifted to other Medical Colleges of the respective State as proposed by the concerned State Government and recommended by MCI.

Fathima Institute of Medical Sciences, Kadapa which was not granted renewal permission for the year 2015-16 was allowed to admit students provisionally in that year in compliance with the interim order dated 29.09.2015 of the High Court of A.P. & Telangana in Writ Petition (C) No.3137 of 2015 filed by the College. Subsequently, the High Court dismissed the Writ Petition on 20.04.2016 and ordered the College to refund the entire amount collected from the students towards fee and other expenses. Petitions challenging the order of the High Court were also dismissed by the Supreme Court. As such admission of those students into MBBS Course for the year 2015-16 stood cancelled.