Faculty Shortage: MCI points out Deficiencies at GMC Patiala, Amritsar; 100 MBBS seats in RISK

With the MCI report stating that Patiala and Amritsar GMCs are facing 23 and 16 per cent faculty shortage, respectively, the state is on the verge of losing 100 MBBS seats.

Chandigarh: Faculty adequacy is considered one of the basic requirements for the renewal of increased MBBS seats and now its shortage may run to take a toll of UG Medical seats at two Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) in Punjab.

As mentioned in a recent report by Tribune, in the recently released Medical Colleges’ Assessment Report, the Medical Council of India (MCI) has pointed out to deficiencies at GMC Patiala and GMC Amritsar. The MCI noted that there is a shortage of faculty in these medical institutes.

MBBS seats in both these medical colleges were increased from 150 to 200 from 2014-15 onwards. With the MCI report stating that Patiala and Amritsar GMCs are facing 23 and 16 per cent faculty shortage, respectively, the state is on the verge of losing 100 MBBS seats.

Medical Dialogues had been extensively reporting about the faculty shortage issue at Amritsar and Patiala GMCs. In November last year, more than 57 per cent of the medical teachers’ posts were lying vacant in these two medical colleges. Out of 628 posts, a whopping 358 were vacant.

Entry-level positions had the highest number of vacancies that is those of assistant professors with over 70 per cent of vacancy rate. Due to this severe faculty crunch, post-graduate medicos are reported to be teaching MBBS students in the city-based Government Medical Colleges, instead of certified medical professors comprising the quality of medical education in Patiala and Amritsar.

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However, to address the issue of faculty shortage in Government Medical Colleges at Amritsar and Patiala the Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has approved filling up of 153 vacant sanctioned direct quota posts of 42 Professors, 46 Associate Professors and 65 Assistant Professors in the GMCs at Amritsar and Patiala.

Read Also: Punjab approves filling for Direct quota posts at medical colleges, Medical faculty show opposition

It is apparent that Punjab is facing a dearth of MBBS seats. Putting this issue at its worse, upcoming medical college in Mohali is failing to take off and Chintpurni and Gian Sagar Medical colleges are lying shut. Moreover, if Amritsar and Patiala GMCs lose 50 seats each, MBBS aspirants will have a small number of seats to compete for.

The Tribune reports that the MCI has sought an explanation and measures taken by the medical colleges to fix these anomalies. If the medical institutes somehow failed to comply with the norms, the MCI will recommend cancellation of their increased seats.

On February 5, the Board of Governors had notified that if any medical college found to be having more than 10 per cent faculty shortage after the final inspection, it will not be considered for the letter of permission/renewal in that academic year. Now, as mentioned above, Patiala and Amritsar GMCs have a whopping 23 and 16 per cent faculty shortage respectively.

Speaking to Tribune, GMC Amritsar Principal, informed, “The MCI had asked for an explanation over staff shortage. We have already sent our reply. On the day of the inspection, our faculty was in Chandigarh due to some reason.”

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