The Supreme Court mandated Oversight Committee (OC), headed by Justice (retd) R M Lodha, on Medical Council of India (MCI) has given its approval for the establishment of 34 new private medical colleges for the current session. But there are certain conditions associated with it.
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Faggan Singh Kulaste, Minister of State for Health in a written reply to Rajya Sabha said that the Oversight Committee also approved seven colleges each for private and government to increase its seats and the introduction of super speciality courses.
The minister was asked if the OC had given clearances to any private medical colleges that were suspended by MCI inspectors for glaring deficiencies.
Oversight Committee (OC) on MCI had approved following proposals or schemes of the applicant medical colleges for the year 2016-17 with certain conditions.
- Establishment of 34 new medical colleges
- Increase of intake capacity 7 private and one government college
- Renewal of permission for 30 private colleges
In August 2016, the panel had criticized the medical education regulator MCI for not following its directives and not conducting a fresh inspection of medical colleges. The Oversight Committee also said that it had resolved in its meeting held on June 13, 2016, that all applicant medical colleges, which were not given an opportunity to present their compliance to deficiencies communicated by MCI, be given an opportunity to do so by June 22.
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The Medical Council of India (MCI) - a statutory body for establishing uniform and high standards of medical education in India, grants recognition of medical qualifications, registration to medical practitioners, gives accreditation to medical schools and monitors medical practice in India. NITI Aayog had recommended the replacement of MCI with National Medical Commission (NMC).
(With inputs from PTI)