GMCH Chandigarh retains 100 MBBS seats

Punjab: Medical aspirants in the state can heave a huge sigh of relief as GMCH Chandigarh has been granted permission to retain 100 MBBS seats offered at the institute. There was a lot of speculation regarding the matter of renewal of 100 seats for the fourth batch of MBBS students. This was because of the noted deficiencies by MCI during its routine inspection. However, as reported by the MD team earlier, MCI had assured the medical college authorities that it will go-ahead and recommend the health ministry to renew the seats for the coming session.

It was in 2013, when MCI had granted permission to the institute to offer an addition of 50 seats, taking the total tally to 100. Till this year, the institute was able to maintain the 100 seats intake-subject to MCI inspection and approval. However, during the last year visit of MCI officials, several deficiencies were pointed our creating speculation regarding the renewal of 4^th batch of MBBS students. The MCI executive committee, based on the assessment report, decided not to recommend permission for renewal of seats for 2016 for the increased seats.

After another team of the council visited GMCH again in February, they submitted a fresh report to MCI. Officials along with anxious parents have also taken action on the matter. Parents are reported to have even approached City MP Kirron Kher over the matter. Kher is reported to have sent a letter to the health ministry regarding the matter.

UT Health Secretary Anurag Aggarwal was also present in a meeting with MCI in New Delhi, witness to the fact that MCI recommend renewal of permission to the health ministry. An undertaking was also submitted by MCI regarding rectification of deficiencies noted by MCI inspection team. The next inspection will be conducted in 2017.

Director Principal, GMCH, Atul Sachdev confirmed to Chandigarh Newsline on Saturday that a letter had been received from the health ministry about the seat renewal.

“We were hopeful that seats would be renewed for this year as well. We have received a communication from the health ministry in which seats have been renewed for the current year as well,” said the director.

“For the next year, MCI will again conduct the inspection. The renewal process happens for first five years.” Asked if the deficiencies observed by the MCI earlier have been fixed, the director principal said those had been rectified by the college management. On the present year’s admission process, Sachdev said that tests would be conducted as per the NEET schedule. “The exam is scheduled in July and results will be announced in August. Counselling will be done after the results,” he said.