Kollam: The Medical Council of India's decision to stall admissions to the Kollam Medical College for the next two academic years is a major setback to the college that had faced several hurdles before it got the nod last year. Taken over by the state from the ESI Corporation last year, it allegedly failed to abide by the MCI norms. Earlier, the Lodha Committee appointed by the Supreme Court had permitted 100 MBBS seats in 2017-18, against the denial by the MCI and the Union government.
“The Center had given the nod based on Lodha committee report in May this year to commence admissions to 100 seats. The admissions to next two years 2018-19 and 2019-20 have been stalled based on an inspection in September, two months after the commencement of admissions. The state government has failed to rectify the issues as against the norms to maintain it as a medical college,” said N.K. Premachandran MP.
The panel had given the approval on the condition that the state government should submit an undertaking to rectify all issues the MCI pointed out. The Union health ministry should provide directions for inspection based on the compliance report. It also warned to stall admissions to 2018-19 if discrepancies were found. The MCI has found eight faults, including 36% less number of resident doctors, only 45% inpatients, and no major surgeries held at the hospital. The hospital also has allegedly failed to ensure treatment facilities for ESI beneficiaries.
