Why Kesar SAL may not be third time lucky with MCI
Pulkit Vasudha
Ahmedabad, June 23:Every inspection day, the same cycle repeats itself at Kesar SAL Medical College & Research Institute. Two years ago, just before the intake of second batch of students, the mandatory inspection by the Medical Council of India (MCI) led to a temporary derecognition of the college. The story was the same the following year when the college was preparing to take in its third batch of students. However, each time, Kesar SAL has managed to get back its recognised status. While this year has been no different with MCI once again awarding the college zero status, there is reason for worry. For, the MCI has now asked the Central Government not to allow the college to admit its fourth batch of students for the 2007-08 academic session.
“In the last few years, Kesar SAL has not once met MCI’s requirements. However, as it was a new and upcoming college, we granted the college time to spruce up its infrastructure. Instead of using the time to set right infrastructural deficiencies, the management has shown laxity and has resorted to gross manipulation to fool the MCI inspection team,” says a member of MCI’s decision-making committee.
Students and insiders agree that such has been the case. As per MCI guidelines, any medical college with a batch of 100 students must have 450 beds and an 80 per cent occupancy in its hospital. “But, the number of patients in the hospital has never exceeded 50 patients at a time,” says a medical officer at Kesar SAL.
While the required faculty strength is 121, the college has only 24 regular professors. The college is short of residents, too, with only 15 of the 85 posts being occupied.
“While the Pharmacology department has been closed for a while, the ENT, surgery, biochemistry and forensic medicine departments have just three lecturers each. There should be around 18-20 staff per department,” say students.
With 100 students per batch, three lecture halls are grossly inadequate. “According to MCI guidelines, professors must use collar mikes so as to be audible to all students. While mikes are in place, Kesar SAL’s lecturers have not been using them at all. As a result, there has been a drop in attendance. The library does not have sufficient books. Important medical journals aren’t available at the central and departmental libraries. Important medical books, such as the Harrison’s series, are only meant for reference and not issued at all,” says an MCI Council member.
Another criterion for the temporary derecognition of Kesar SAL this year were the dismal living conditions of students and teaching staff. “Till a month ago, the boys’ hostel did not even have drinking water. So, boys had to get water from the girls’ hostel. The food quality is very poor. The sports ground is unusable and there is just one table-tennis table in the indoor gymkhana, which is located in the girls’ hostel. During inspection days, however, the gymkhana gets shifted to the boys’ hostel,” say students.
The students tried to seek legal recourse in December 2005. “As soon as the management got a whiff of it, we were summoned by the medical director, Dr Nitin Shah, and forced to withdraw the affidavit,” says a student.
Despite several requests, SAL Trustee, Rajendra Shah; Dean, Dr Sadhna Joshi; and, Medical Superintendent, Dr Nitin Shah refused to comment on the issue. MCI acting president Dr Kesavankutty Nayar could not be contacted while MCI secretary Dr ARN Setalvad said he would be in a position to comment on the issue only after a week.
Source: Indian Express