Kerala: 6 nursing college affiliations to be cancelled

Thrissur: Affiliation of 6 nursing colleges is to be cancelled by the Governing Council of the Kerala University of Health Sciences (KUHS) for not complying with the university norms. Inspections carried out at these colleges by the university discovered 20% less of the permissible bed strength. This affiliation cancellation decision is likely to have a major impact on health education.

According to KUHS insiders, this decision is likely to lead to these colleges not being able to take in any student admissions this year. They will have to take recourse to court, if they want to go ahead with student admissions.

These 6 colleges with a 300 BSc Nursing student strength include: Nightingale College of Nursing, Nedumangad, Thiruvananthapuram; Ruckmoni College Of Nursing, Vellarada, Thiruvananthapuram; Mercy College of Nursing, Kottarakkara; Indira Gandhi Nursing College,Ernakulam; Theophilus College of Nursing, Kottayam; College of Nursing of Guru Educational Trust, Kottayam.

The inspection team that visited these colleges came across other flaws in these colleges, as well. However, their main concern continued to remain the required and the available bed strength in all the 6 colleges, revealed a university source.

7 other nursing colleges also had the university axe fall on their heads when 10% seat allocations in these seven colleges were done away with. The deduction in seats was done, as they were found to be deficient in infra structural facilities, including bed strength.

KUHS also imposed a fine of Rs. 5.5 lakh on the KMCT Ayurveda Medical College, Kozhikode for providing false information to the visiting inspecting team reports TOI.