Discrepancies in MBBS internship Records: Medical Council Summons Saveetha Medical College Dean

Chennai: Discrepancies in the internship completion certificates issued to students at a deemed university that surfaced have led to the Tamil Nadu Medical Council to summon the dean of the institution, Saveetha Medical College. The students happen to be 2017 and 2018 passouts.

MBBS students in the state, after completion of their course are supposed to complete compulsory rotatory residential internships (CRRI) for a 1 year tenure in college affiliated hospitals or approved hospitals. For the same, Temporary registration certificates are given to the students during their internship tenure . After completion of the internships, the medicos have to show completion certifications to get their degrees and consequently a permanent registration with the state medical council

A student from Saveetha Medical College and Hospital approached the council for permanent registration in April was found to have discrepancies in the dates on which he attended some ward jobs.

According to the Tamil Nadu Medical Council President, Dr K Senthil "In January, the student had applied for six months extension to complete her internship. But he is said to have completed the course by April."

The council also discovered two other students whose certificates had similar discrepancies. The state medical council launched an inquiry proceeding into the matter

On Tuesday, on being summoned by the Council's Disciplinary committee hospital Dean, Dr T Gunasagaran revealed that the student in question was irregular and had approached the council for a six-month extension, after having completed a nine months tenure of internship.

"It was only to ensure that if he further absented himself he did not have to go back for an extension. I told them I had no mala fide intentions," Gunasagaran told TOI.

"At our university at least 30% of students are given repeat internships because we give rigorous training."

Asking for proof, the committee has now asked for the concerned MBBS student's log sheets in a week. "It is important to maintain log sheets to prove the student had adequate attendance," said Senthil.

The council keeping the above stated discrepancies in mind has taken a decision to not register students without checking their names on the registers of medical colleges, universities and Medical Council of India. "This will ensure there are no fake certificates or registrations," Senthil told the TOI