The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has come to the rescue of students studying in various medical colleges that come under the Employment State Insurance Corporation (ESIC). The Corporation had recently announced that it will be exiting the field of medical education. This will put at stake the educational future of students and job security of the faculty at these institutions across the country.
In a letter written to President Pranab Mukerjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Medical Council of India and the Heath Ministry, IMA office-bearer Dr. K. K. Aggarwal noted: “A total of 1,200 undergraduate medical students (MBBS, BDS and nursing) and 200 post-graduate students have commenced their study through the All India Examination [AIPMT] in the ESIC colleges…Also more than 200 faculties were also recruited, now the Corporation’s exit seems to be without considering the fate and future of the students and faculty members,” he added.
The Association has noted that the move has stalled all progress of development like construction, faculty appointment, promotions and opening of new post-graduate programmes. “The fate and future of the students pursuing their studies in these colleges are at stake. Further there is no clarity on what would happen to the more than 200 faculty members,” said Dr. Aggarwal.
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Earlier, in accordance with Section 59B, ESIC started the work of opening medical, dental and nursing colleges and massive infrastructure was built for hospitals and colleges through investment of thousands of crores of rupees at different locations in the country.
While colleges at Bangalore (Karnataka), Kolkata, Gulbarga (Karnataka), Delhi were started and are still running, colleges at Faridabad (Haryana), Mandi (Himachal), Paripally (Kerala) and Channai (T.N.) are ready for operation.
“In case these colleges are shut, this will also lead to reduction of 1,000 medical graduation seats, 50 dental seats and about 100 post-graduate seats in the country annually, which is detrimental to the current national health policy of increasing the doctor-patient ratio,” noted IMA in its letter.
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Appealing to the Government to direct ESIC to reconsider its move, the IMA has noted: “To initiate handing over all the ESIC-run medical, dental, paramedical and nursing institutions with all its required infrastructure to the Govt. of India/ State governments with the condition that the standard as per MCI/ DCI/ Nursing Council, terms and conditions of the employment of faculty members would remain same as at present and under which they were taken in the aforesaid colleges. All the current educational/ developmental activities must continue till handing over is completed.”
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