Caught : Medical Colleges offering medical courses without MCI approval

Coimbatore: Medical Institutes in the area have been found manipulating the lack of clarity in relation to common entrance test NEET and option of pursuing medical courses from foreign medical colleges to offer unregulated courses to medical aspirants

A recent report in TOI states that TIPS Global Institute, Kovilpalayam and KSG College of Arts and Science are offering undergraduate and post-graduate courses in medicine without Medical Council of India(MCI) approval. .The two colleges are charging between Rs 60 lakh and Rs 1 crore for the courses. These courses are being called Pre-med study

The report came after in response to a TIPS Global Institute advertisement inviting applications for the MBBS course a TOI reporter approached the institute posing as a 'guardian'. The institute authorities informed him that the course was in 3 stages

• Three years at TIPS Global Institute in Coimbatore,


• Two years at an institution on Aruba, a Dutch-Caribbean Island,


• The final two years at Xavier University in the United States.The admission officer further informed the reporter that the first three years will be BSc in human biology, and the degree would be granted Bharathiar University, Coimbatore.

"This part of education is called pre-med study. If the student is academically sound, he can finish the B.Sc human biology course in one and half years and fly to Aruba for six more semisters. This includes the USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination). If the student is weak in English, we will provide the coaching for it too. Our fees is about 1 crore. This will cover books, accommodation, health insurance, malpractice insurance and flight fares," the officer said.

The move has made the Medical council authorities see red, who have demanded action against these institutes.

Dr CV Bhirmanandham, Vice-President, MCI, said "The state authorities should initiate action against the two colleges for violating MCI norms and running illegal courses."

"All students need eligibility certificate to leave India and study MBBS. Since these institutions are not recognized, the students won’t get the certificate. They can’t sit for the screening test here after the course and so they won't be able to practice medicine," he explained.

Reena Nayar, MCI Secretary said the courses such as MBBS could not be run in India by any institution without the councils approval. "Also, this year admission in India without NEET qualification is illegal," she said.

But TIPS Globals Admission Co-ordinator,Indu Priya said there was no need for the institute to obtain permission from the MCI.

"Xavier University is the institution that will offer the undergraduate degree in medicine," she added.