MCI declines GMC Patiala PG Transfusion Medicine due to faculty shortage

Patiala: The Government Medical College, Patiala’s endeavour to start a post graduation course in ‘Transfusion Medicine’ has despite repeated attempts on the part of the college has not been given clearance by the Medical Council of India(MCI). The apex regulator refuses to budge from its disapproval stand as the college is short of faculty strength as per its norms. The college has been attempted to gain approval for the course for the past 10 years but has repeatedly met with failure. At present, there are two colleges in Punjab that offer MD transfusion medicine as a course.

The Council inspections have time and again found the GMCH lacking in staff for the successful running of the course. The college, however, continues to show keenness for it, as it houses the biggest blood bank unit of the state.

The authorities of the medical college say that they are only waiting for an approval from the authorities concerned and have enough space and infrastructure to facilitate the course. However, the fact remains that the college needs at least four faculty members qualified in MD transfusion and MD pathology or microbiology for the successful carrying out of the program.

The college is believed to have an MD pathology and an assistant professor already on its rolls, However, it requires four more faculties for Council approval.

"We have a shortage of two faculty members to run this course. We had applied for the course numerous times before as well but some reason, the institution failed to bag an approval to run this course," MD pathologist Kanchan Bhardwaj told TOI.

The two institutes in Punjab offering this course are Baba Farid University of Health Science Faridkot and the DMC Ludhiana. If GMCH were to join the league it would stand to advantage for the state as it houses the biggest blood bank, recording the highest collection and distribution of the blood units.

"It has recorded over 18,000 units of blood in the collection, whereas the distribution is far more than this when the blood units, platelets, and others are counted separately. Every year Patiala blood bank records the higher collection and distribution but has been left ignored," a blood bank official stated.

"This course is crucial for the medical college as students can learn a lot about the blood component separation, blood quality control, and blood transfusion that is not taught in MBBS. This is a specialization course that can be done after MBBS and GMCH Patiala has been applying for this for over 10 years but the MCI has time and again rejected, following the dearth of shortage," the official told TOI