Nadda tells MCI to inspect Odisha medical college

New Delhi: The Union Health Ministry asked the Medical Council of India (MCI) to inspect a college in Odisha to facilitate issuance of permission letter to the institution to start its academic session.

The move comes days after Odisha government sought intervention of the Supreme Court-mandated Oversight Committee as the MCI had not recommended LoP to Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College and Hospital for commencement of academic session.

The decision comes after Union Health Minister J P Nadda held a meeting, also attended by Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, to resolve pending issue of the college.

"A decision was taken to allow the MCI to inspect these colleges and submit a report by the May 24, 2017," an official statement said.

During the meeting, which was also attended by Union health secretary C K Mishra, Odisha principal secretary (Health) informed that the state government has taken necessary action for compliance.

Recently, Odisha health secretary P K Meherda had written to secretary of Oversight Committee, Sekhar Kumar, saying "gross injustice" has been done to PRM Medical College and Hospital, Baripada by MCI for not recommending for issuance of LoP for commencement of 100 undergraduate intake seat from 2017-18 academic session despite fulfilment of all the mandates.

The state government pointed out that it had applied to the MCI for LoP in June 2016 for two new medical colleges -- Saheed Laxman Nayak Medical College and Hospital (SLN MCH), Koraput and PRM MCH, Baripada.

The application was given under the centrally-sponsored scheme "Establishment of New Medical Colleges, attached with existing District Headquarters Hospital/referral hospitals.

A team from the MCI had visited the PRM MCH, Baripada on December 12 and SLN MCH, Koraput on December 28, 2016.

Though the SLN MCH at Koraput got the LoP, the MCI did not issue LoP for PRM MCH at Baripada despite the fact that both have similar infrastructures and faculty positions.

Earlier, Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik had also sought Nadda's intervention in the matter.

Union minister Pradhan, who hails from the state, had earlier said he had taken up the matter with Nadda.