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If Tata Steel and Paritran Trust do their spadework appropriately then there is every chance that the academic session 2016-17 would see the setting up of two new medical colleges in Jharkhand in Jamshedpur and Deoghar. The move is going to infuse some rich enthusiasm in this beleaguered segment where the existing state run institutes continually face flak from the regulatory body Medical Council of India (MCI) for lack of proper infrastructure and faculty.
If the twin projects take off as per plan then there would be an enriching addition to the already existing 350 seats in the state run RIMS, PMCH and MGM institutions what with both the private players promising 150 MBBS seats each in the two proposed institutions.
These facts were revealed recently during a meeting called by the state development commissioner R.S. Poddar on December 30, 2015, between private and public sector representatives on the progress and problems in opening private medical colleges in Jharkhand. It was in the wake of the state health department’s proposed policy to incentivise private cradles that is awaiting the cabinet’s nod.
In the meeting the private sectors were represented by the Tata Steel and Paritran Trust while the public sector was represented by the Bharat Coking Coal (BCCL) and Central Coalfields according to the deputy secretary, Health, Mr. Ram Kumar Sinha.
According to Sinha, Tata Steel in all likelihood would be starting a medical college at the existing site of Ardeshir Dalal Memorial Hospital at New Baridih in Jamshedpur, in association with the Bangalore based Manipal Education and Medical Group. Sinha Said,” The steel major is hoping for the college to debut in 2016-17 with 150 MBBS Seats. It received the MCI go ahead but has yet to clear formalities regarding subleasing the hospital to Manipal.”
Regarding the Paritran Trust’s Paritran Medical College and Hospital 7km from Deoghar town he said,” The Trust has been trying for an MCI nod to run a medical college since 2009. But now, according to its representatives, progress has been made. They have applied to the MCI for opening the college in 2016-17 academic year itself citing ready campus and faculty. The Trust has sought Rs 10 crore as financial aid from the state.”
He added that no objection certificate has been given to both the proposals by the state.
As far as CCL and BCCL are concerned he said,” BCCL was to tie up with CMC Vellore for a medical college which failed. Now, it is looking for a new partner. CCL, which said it had land to run a medical college, is now seeking it from us.”
According to Sinha they were also expecting HEC and SAIL at the meeting, but HEC expressed its inability to go for a medical college venture whereas there was no response from SAIL.” But once the proposed incentive policy of the health department on medical education gets cabinet nod, more PSUs and private firms will evince interest. Our policy envisages disbursal of Rs 30 crore to investors on the condition that 50 percent seats would be reserved for Jharkhand students.”
