ESIC medical college Coimbatore to offer 100 MBBS seats this year

Tamil Nadu: While starting on a dissatisfactory note for MCI inspection team, the ESIC medical college Coimbatore has finally been given permission to offer 100 MBBS seats this academic year. There were many deficiencies noted by MCI during its initial rounds of inspections, particularly the required teaching strength and administrative help to run classes. MD team had earlier reported that MCI is expected to take a final call in the first week of June on the beginning of first batch in the college.

A sanctioned letter of permission has been published on the ministry of heath website. Now, there are two ESIC medical colleges in the state. The other is at KK Nagar in Chennai.

Dean in-charge of the medical college in Coimbatore B. Asokan implied that after MCI's in-premise inspection in December 2015, it pointed out certain areas of improvement; which have now been rectified for a positive compliance check by MCI on May 11.

"Satisfied with the compliance check, the MCI has given us the letter of permission. The building and infrastructure were provided by the Union Government's Ministry of Labour at about Rs. 600 crore but it will be run by the State Government according to a Memorandum of Understanding between both the Governments," the Dean in-charge said to Hindu. Dr. Asokan said that of the 100 seats, 65 will be filled up by the State Government through counselling and 15 by the Union Government. The remaining 20 seats have been set aside for the children of ESIC card holders. He said the Union Government has handed over nearly Rs. 40 crore to the State Government to procure equipment. "We have bought some equipment and the rest will be ready when classes commence for the first batch in August," he added.

With regard to CMCH, dean of the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) A. Edwin Joe implied that no permission will be sought by the institute for increase in MBBS seats till the medical college is fully equipped with the required infrastructure and facilities. At present, the college has requisite facilities for accommodating 150 students. For any further increase, even for 100 students, there will be an additional investment of Rs 100 crore required for establishing additional support infrastructure.