The Doctors’ Association for Social Equality (DASE) has urged the State government to take over the medical and dental colleges run by Annamalai University.
Ever since financial irregularities in running the university were unearthed four years ago, students of the colleges have been affected. The medical college admits 150 students and the dental college admits 50 students annually. The students are admitted based on their class 12 marks, but the admission process is not through single-window counselling.
Recently, the Medical Council of India cancelled recognition of several of its postgraduate degree and diploma courses citing insufficient teaching staff.
According to DASE general secretary G.R. Ravindranath, the MCI withdrew permission for admission to PG diploma and degree courses in anaesthesia, paediatrics, radiology, obstetrics and gynaecology, general medicine and bone and joint replacement surgery.
At this rate, the college could lose recognition, spelling doom for students admitted to the college.
Despite lacking teaching staff, the students were being charged very high tuition fees, he added. Although the government took over the functioning of the university, it did not interfere in the fee structure. Students pay almost twice the amount government college students pay. By taking over the institution, the government would not only ensure that the college would function smoothly, but also help to regain the lost PG medical seats, he said.
