MCI approves increased intake of 40 to IGGMC, needs undertaking of CS

MCI approves increased intake of 40 to IGGMC, needs undertaking of CS

By Vikas Vaidya

Medical Council of India (MCI) has approved increased intake of 40 to Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH) making the total seats from 60 to 100. MCI has made it clear that Chief Secretary of Maharashtra should give undertaking to rectify the deficiencies. Chief Secretary Dr Jayantkumar Banthia told The Hitavada from Mumbai that he would support to get back the seats.
On June 3 IGGMCH and Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) have sent the letter of undertaking. In undertaking it was mentioned that timebound programme would be chalked out to remove the deficiencies including modernisation of IGGMCH.
MCI’s letter says the issue of recognition/approval against the increased intake
from 60 to 100 of IGGMCH was considered in the meeting of Board of Governors. MCI considered undertaking dated June 4, 2013 sent by DMER and approved the increased intake of 40. It has asked that Chief Secretary of Government of Maharashtra would give undertaking to rectify the deficiencies.
When contacted on phone, Dr Jayantkumar Banthia, Chief Secretary said, “Yet I did not get any letter in this regard. Probably that must have gone to DMER or Additional Chief Secretary of that department. But I assure all the people of Vidarbha that I would support fully to restore the 40 seats of IGGMCH.”
Recently Anees Ahmed, senior Congress leader met Shivajirao Moghe, Guardian Minister of Nagpur and requested him to make some efforts to get back IGGMCH seats.
Devendra Fadnavis, State BJP President is raising the issue of IGGMCH in Assembly since long. The alumni of IGGMCH including Dr Prashant Nikhade, Dr Raju Khandelwal, Dr Raju Deoghare and Dr Anand Pangarkar have already filed Public Interest Litigation for getting back 40 seats. For the first time Nagpurians have come forward actively.
The sword is hanging on IGGMCH since 2004 when Dilip Walse-Patil was Minister of Medical Education. Walse-Patil’s successors Rajesh Tope and present incumbent Dr Vijay Kumar Gavit also failed to give momentum to IGGMCH modernisation.
Government always blamed deans for the slow progress which was not the case. Everytime deans managed the things on their level and IGGMCH kept getting back 40 seats on the assurance that situation would improve. Timely help from Dr Vedprakash Mishra who was then a MCI member helped a lot to get the seats back so that Vidarbha students have a chance to pursue career in medicine. Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court through timely judicial intervention saved the day for Vidarbha region, despite abysmal track record by political leadership.
IGGMCH administration under the leadership of Dr Prakash Wakode, Dean on its level tried best as it began projects like multiutility building and girls hostel for 100 students, but it could not placate MCI.

Renewals after renewals to IGGMCH

The college basically started with intake capacity of 60. Later it was increased from 60 seats to 100 seats in the year 1997. IGGMC is started getting renewal for additional 40 seats till 2001. But Government has never sticked to its promises.
Since 1997, IGGMC enjoyed not one but 16 renewals.
Out of 100 seats at IGGMC, 30 seats are reserved for outside Nagpur students including all India quota students, while remaining 70 seats were kept for Nagpur students.

NKPSIMS gets Superspeciality seats for two specialisation

NKP Salve Institute of Medical Scienes (NKPSIMS) got Superspeciality (M.Ch) seats for its two specialisations. These specialisations include Paediatric Surgery and Plastic Surgery. The permission was given under Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), Nashik under section 10(A) of the IMC Act, 1956.
The Board of Governors reviewed the matter and decided to approve starting of
M.Ch.(Paediatric Surgery) course with annual intake of 1(one) seat and M.Ch.(Plastic Surgery) with annual intake of 1(one) seat.