MMCRI gets MCI approval for MD Psychiatry, MCh Plastic Surgery courses

Mysuru: The Mysore Medical College and Research Institute (MMCRI) has got the approval from the Medical Council of India (MCI) to begin two new medical courses, MD Psychiatry and MCh Plastic Surgery from the academic year 2019-20.

Confirmation to this effect was given by Dr C.P Nanjaraj, Dean and Director of MMC&RI, who while talking to the media stated that the two courses MD Psychiatry with two seats and MCh Plastic Surgery with one seat have been sanctioned and approved by the Medical Council of India.

One of the oldest medical college in the country, MMCRI had been asking for three medical seats in each PG courses over a past few years. Now, with the addition of these two PG medical courses, the programs at PG level has increased to 20.

Also Read: Mysore: Decision by MCI on MMCRI to be taken next month

Commenting on the approval, Dr CP Nanjaraj, dean and director, Mysuru Medical College Research and Institute told TOI, "For the past more than three to four years, we were trying for a PG course in psychiatry. This year, we applied for MCH in plastic surgery as well. The institute had requested for three seats in each PG courses but got approval for two seats in psychiatry and just one in MCH plastic surgery."

Despite an increase in the number of medical courses, a few non-clinical courses including Micro-Biology, Anatomy, Forensic Medicine and Toxicology have gone down over lack of job opportunities in these fields, sources told Star of Mysore.

It has been further reported that the medical college authorities have been demanding an increase in MBBS seats. The Institute had reportedly prepared a proposal and submitted it to MCI seeking permission for the same but the proposal was disapproved in connection with OPD facility.

"We have also requested the Medical Council of India to increase our MBBS seats from 150 to 250. But the MCI for the time being rejected our offer. The explanation for rejecting the offer was with regard to OPD. At our hospital, every day on an average nearly 2,400 to 2,600 patients visits OPD while for giving approval for 250 seats the intake in OPD should be more than 4,000. Hence this year, we have decided to improve our infrastructural facilities. We also do not have a single lecture hall that can accommodate 250 people. Hence, as part of infrastructural improvement, we have also decided to construct halls that can accommodate more than 250 persons," Dr Nanjanraj told TOI.

Also Read: Karnataka applies to MCI for 450 additional MBBS seats