Health Ministry gives permission to Akash Institute of Medical Sciences for 150 students

The Ministry of Health accepting the recommendation of its Hearing Committee has now granted conditional permission to Akash Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Devanhalli for the year 2016-17. It has also permitted the college to take admission for the academic year 2017-18 with 150 students.However, the Next batch of students (150) in 2018-19 are to be admitted only after obtaining permission from Central Government the ministry order stated.

The Ministry’s permission comes in compliance with the direction of the Supreme Court given on 1.8.2017 as reported here under:

In the above persuasive premise, the Central Government is hereby, ordered to consider afresh the materials on record pertaining to the issue of confirmation or otherwise of the letter of permission granted to the petitioner colleges/institutions. We make it clear that in undertaking this exercise, the Central Government would re-evaluate the recommendations/views of the MCI, Hearing Committee, DGHS and the Oversight Committee, as available on records. It would also afford an opportunity of hearing to the petitioner colleges/institutions to the extent necessary. The process of hearing and final reasoned decision thereon, as ordered, would be complete peremptorily within a period of 10 days from today. The parties would unfailingly co-operate in compliance of this direction to meet the time frame fixed

Based on the SC directive, the Ministry granted a hearing to the college on 4.8.2017. The Hearing Committee after considering the record and oral and written submission of the college submitted its report to the Ministry. Observations of Hearing Committee are as under:

The college submitted that MCI conducted compliance verification on 3-4 November 2016 where the deficiency of residents was pointed out as 13.04% and bed occupancy at 55%. However, without assigning any reason, MCI visited the college again on 9-10 January, 2017 to re-inspect. The college complied and MCI conducted another inspection. This time there was no deficiency of faculty and residents. Bed occupancy is also noted as 63%.

The college pointed out the prejudicial attitude of MCI in recommending for disapproval based on the November inspection report even when the latest inspection was in January, 2017.

The Committee agrees with the contention of the college. MCI cannot conduct repeat inspections and then not consider those findings. There were no major deficiencies as per January report.

The Committee recommends that the conditional LoP for 2016-17 may be confirmed and the college may also be allowed to take admission for 2017-18."