MCI declares Zero Year at 2 Medical Colleges; 250 MBBS Seats lost

Raipur: Two medical colleges in Chhattisgarh have been declared "Zero Year" by the apex medical regulator, Medical Council of India (MCI) causing the loss of over 250 MBBS seats to the state.

According to recent media accounts, Ambikapur Medical College with 100 MBBS seats and Chandulal Chandrakar Medical College with the intake of 150 MBBS seats failed to get the MCI approval for 2019-20 after the medical council's team recently inspected these medical colleges' premises.

Both these medical colleges were found to have gross deficiencies. While Ambikapur Medical College received 'Zero Year' twice in the past four years, Chandulal Chandrakar Medical College got the title for the second consecutive year.

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The lack of faculty and senior residents was found as less than 20 per cent in Ambikapur Medical College along with adequate infrastructure.

With this, 250 MBBS seats have come down in the state. This will increase the competition among MBBS students who intend to go for Chattisgarh Medical colleges.

Speaking to a local daily, Patrika, Dr Vishnu Dutt, Dean, Medical College, Ambikapur informed that there was a lack of faculty by 20 percent. "It was also reported to MCI in the May 17 meeting. It is surprising to not give recognition in such a way. Some older construction works are being done gradually, he added. Along with this, failing to buy some necessary equipment on time due to the elections can be a major reason for the denial by the MCI.

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Now, the officials of the Department Medical Education (DME) are in process of appealing to the Union Health Ministry to reconsider the decision to approve 100 medical seats for Ambikapur institute.

Displeased with the medical colleges' standpoint, an official from DME stated to TOI, "Due to zero year, these colleges have deprived 250 medical seats in the state."

At present, there are a total of 1100 MBBS seats in the state. Of which, 650 are in 6 Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) and 3 private colleges have 450 seats.

Of all of them, 150 seats of Raipur have got permanent recognition. 100 seats in Rajnandgaon, 50 in Raigad, 150 in Bilaspur and 100 seats in Jagdalpur are awaiting recognition. RIMS and Shankaracharya Private Medical College have already got recognition, adds Bhaskar.

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