MCI against "fake" medical college giving out international degrees

Chennai: Alarm bells rose across the Apex Medical Body, when an institute by the name of American International School of Medicine (AISM) invited applications for its medical program. Based on the USMLE model, AISM's institute in Coimbatore, KSG International Medical Centre, would offer a five yer UG Medical examination. With having a main campus in Gayana, students seeking admission to the college would not need to clear the NEET exam, which is mandatory for admission to any medical college in India.

But what the advertisement did not say, reports TOI, was that the college is not recognised by the Medical Council of India (MCI), the regulatory body governing medical education in India. So, students passing out of this college will not be able to practice medicine in India.

The college authorities had a justification. Their main campus is in Guyana, South America and that the College, American International School of Medicine, AISM is listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and with the National Accreditation Council of Guyana, and students can appear for qualifying examinations in the UK and US.

"The students study here for two years. They will go to Atlanta to complete their fourth and final years of the undergraduate degree. The degree will come from a university in South America. If they clear a postgraduate examination in the US, they can come back and practice here. Else, they have to appear for a screening test," KSG Group of Institutions managing trustee K S Gita told TOI.

The college authorities are reported to have further pointed out the 17 students admitted to the college for the past two years attend virtual lectures organised by professors in Atlanta, US, and will do practical lessons on computer-aided simulation models.

The fee charged by the institute ranges between Rs 70 to Rs 85 lakhs, apart from expenses for books and examinations.

The model of the college, however, has not gone well with the MCI authorities, who have clearly pointed out that the undergraduate students passing out the said college will not be permitted to write the screening test as the course run by the college is illegal.Moreover, the screening test that is conducted by MCI is limited to those graduates who obtain medical degrees from

recognised medical colleges or universities abroad, which is certainly not the case here

KSG International Medical Centre, is a small building inside KSG Art and Science College in Singanallur, does not have medical hospitals or permanent faculty members, adds TOI.

"This college is right here and it is not recognised by the medical council. Even if they leave the country for the last two years, they will not be permitted to take the mandatory screening test," said MCI vice-chairman Dr C V Bhirmanandham

"It is illegal. It is the duty of the state government to check such fraudulent colleges. The MCI sitting in New Delhi will not be able to monitor it," he said.