Scores of students graduating from Jipmer with degrees in super speciality courses are in a fix as their qualifications are yet to be recognised by the Medical Council of India (MCI).
While the Jipmer administration has been taking up the issue of recognition for its courses with the Union Health Ministry, the delay in resolving what officials claim is nothing more than a “matter of simple office procedure” is resulting in missed opportunities for students in jobs, fellowships or even setting up independent practice on the basis of their specialisation.
The procedure in question is for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to pass a gazette notification and communicate the same to the MCI which would then include Jipmer courses in its list of approved qualifications.
While the administrators tend to view the issue as one that can undo confusion, in actuality, the procedural delay has produced a generation of alumni which has been denied opportunities because the Jipmer degree for courses such as MCh or DM super speciality disciplines are not recognised by the MCI.
“While we are aware of this lacuna, and have been trying to resolve it, we have the Ministry’s assurance that no Jipmer student would lose out on an opportunity,” Dr. S. C. Parija, Jipmer Director told The Hindu.
“Given its pedigree as an institution of national importance, the Jipmer management may be unable to conceive of a situation where its degrees are not being recognised. But, it is also lame to blame any institution which declines sanction to a Jipmer graduate because the qualification is not on the MCI’s list of approved courses. ,” bemoaned an alumnus who requested anonymity.
“So far, we are yet to be notified of any instance of our alumni being denied on account of non-approval of the qualification. In fact, when the specific likelihood of delay in recognition turning a problem for graduates was brought up before Central officials before, we were assured of prompt remedy in such cases by the Health Ministry,” the Director said.
“Jipmer’s problem is unique vis a vis other centres such as AIIMS because until 2008 when it was declared a centre of national importance by an Act of Parliament, courses were governed by the MCI,” says Dr. S. Mahadevan, Dean, Jipmer.
