State to start GMCs on private partnership
By Vikas Vaidya
Maharashtra Government has decided to start Government Medical Colleges with the support of private partnership. A committee has been constituted under the Chairmanship of Dr Vedprakash Mishra, Chancellor of Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, Karad that will prepare a proposal suggesting the alternative models, that would be submitted to Government within a month. Joint Director of Directorate of Medical Education and Research Dr Prakash Wakode will be its member. Medical Education Minister Vinod Tawde has issued the directions in that regard.
There are many districts in Maharashtra where there is no Government Medical College exist at present. Government has proposed that Government Medical College can be established in these districts to be run with support of private partnership. Almost all districts have District Hospital. To run any medical college, one will need good hospital of at least 100 beds. So, Government is planning to upgrade this district hospital to the level of Government Medical College. Once it gets upgraded it would become easier for this hospital to procure more funds.
While implementing this scheme, Government will not need to spend a big amount. Minister has directed the authorities to review the idea and prepare a proposal in that regard. He had convened a meeting and discussed the issue. Accordingly a committee of Dr Vedprakash Mishra and Dr Prakash Wakode was constituted. The committee can invite other experts as the invitee members as per the needs.
The committee will study the financial aspects of the idea. It will suggest some alternative models. Government will accept one model out of it to establish the new Medical college being run by it.
Recently Medical Council of India (MCI) had mooted out a proposal under which new private medical college will be given the responsibility of district hospital. The college owner will not have to have its own hospital but it will have to maintain the Government hospital. This will save lot of public expenditure on Government Hospitals and simultaneously provide a readymade hospital infrastructure to new private medical colleges. This decision has been recently notified by Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry.
A MCI panel led by Dr Vedprakash Mishra while recommending this relaxation, put the onus of maintaining entire health infrastructure on private colleges and made it mandatory to safeguard the interest of State Governments. These private medical college while availing Government-owned hospital has to keep 20% seats reserved for Government quota. They also have to ensure patient care in affiliated hospital of the college as per existing MCI norm. Now the decision of Maharashtra Government will pave the way for creation of more medical colleges.
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