MCI asked to stop allowing Individual counselling of students: Centre

Kolkatta: The Medical Council of India (MCI), has been instructed by the Centre to stop individual counselling of medical students by private hospitals throughout the country. The Council has been asked to fill up undergraduate seats through common counselling which is to be conducted by state governments based on the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) rankings.

Earlier, it was in the hands of the Private Medical Colleges to fill up their own seats through their own counselling sessions. Private Medical Colleges also held their own examinations to admit students for these seats. However, there were incessant complaints of malpractices like admission irregularities capitation fee and nepotism by candidates applying to these colleges.

West Bengal had private medical colleges taking the state government into confidence for filling up government quota seats, while their own seats were filled through exams conducted by the managements themselves. The state governments had no influence over admissions to these seats.

However, the picture is likely to change this year, with all admissions being done on the basis of CBSE conducted NEET.

There are rumours that like Maharashtra, West Bengal ‘s private, deemed and minority medical colleges might redress court to claim their right to prepare their own merit list, as per IMC amendment Act, 2016.

It may be mentioned here that CMC Vellore has already announced their private admission test for those who qualify NEET. Many other universities and private medical colleges have also decided not to join the central counselling and will come up with their own merit lists, reports millenium post.