KGMU major setback: MCI rejects 16 out of 19 expansion plans

Lucknow: The Medical Council of India(MCI), came down with a heavy hand on the King George Medical University, when it axed 16 of the 19 proposals sent by the university related to its expansion plan of the post graduate medical wing.

The apex body cited shortcomings like inadequate staff, inappropriate promotions, cross-transfer of staff from one department to another, improper equipment, negligible books in the library and nil research publications in some departments of KGMU, as reasons for the rejections.

Meanwhile, the KGMU officials said that they were working on the shortcomings cited and the MCI will conduct another inspection after the submission of the compliance report and submit its final call on the college to the central Government along with its recommendations after that.

The medical university has also sought a seat increase from the Council in the departments of: MD-respiratory medicine, MS-ophthalmology, MD- physiology, MD-microbiology, MD-radio-diagnosis, MD-radio-diagnosis, MD-anesthesia, MD-general medicine, MD in pediatrics, , MD in pharmacology,MD in anatomy, MD in radiotherapy, MD in radio-diagnosis.

However the MCI approval to the university for increase of seats has been granted in only two of the 13 asked for subjects. These are MD- physiology, where the seat number has increased from four to eighteen and MD- anatomy wherein the number has increased from seven to eleven.

The medical university also sought permission for starting postgraduate courses in traumatology, surgery, emergency medicine, biochemistry, and hospital administration. The university though was given a nod in the case of MD-hospital administration, that too for just two students a year

The Council also rejected KGMU renewal of recognition request for two seats of MCh in paediatrics surgery and 15 seats of MD in general medicine reports TOI.

KGMU Vice-Chancellor Ravi Kant, has expressed hope about the Council approval after its compliance report is submitted. "For the first time the university in its history had applied for such a massive expansion in 19 departments. Now at least we know our situation and can rectify things. Majority of the grounds pointed by MCI are weak and can be worked out. We have sent a compliance report and will also use the option to appeal on final recommendations if needed," said the VC.

He however, admitted to the prevalence of shortcomings in the department of pediatrics; calling the MCI pointers in pediatrics-as genuine

MCI has pointed out that the number of patients in the pediatrics department’s OPD to have fallen from 43,000 in 2013 to 39,765 in 2015. The report also states that currently there are six professors and no associate professors in four units of the department. There are already nine existing degrees and 12 diplomas, i.e total of 21 seats available the report adds. This it says, is more than the permissible number of seats, as maximum 12 seats can be allocated as per present faculty configuration. The council also points out that specialty clinics like pediatric cardiology, thalassemia, nephrology, and endocrine, are not running in the department.