Students of post-graduate medical courses in the Government colleges appearing for their final examinations commencing from April 24 are a worried lot.
Of over 1,200 post-graduate medical seats in six government medical colleges in the State, about 500 seats were added during 2010-11 with an undertaking that infrastructure facilities and medical equipment would be upgraded to qualify for recognition from the Medical Council of India.
The MCI sanctioned additional post-graduate seats pending recognition in various departments like radiology, anaesthesia, etc., with the condition that the departments in due course should acquire medical equipment and develop infrastructure as per the norms.
But these medical colleges and teaching hospitals failed to fulfil any of the requirements so far.
The PG students fear that if the facilities were not provided before practical examinations in May to meet the MCI conditions, their PG degrees would not be recognised. In the absence of MCI recognition, the candidates would not be eligible to appear for entrance examination for super speciality courses in reputed institutions or apply for jobs in corporate and government hospitals, said a student of anaesthesia. One of the main demands of last year’s strike by the junior and post-graduate doctors was better infrastructure and facilities in government medical colleges and teaching hospitals to improve quality of medical education.
The Government failed to deliver on its assurances and the mood was turning restive, he said. Raising a pertinent question, a PG student wondered if the Government indeed was allocating funds to improve infrastructure in government hospitals under Arogyasri, why the facilities were dismal even in Osmania and Gandhi hospitals.
However Medical Education Department sources said they had placed an indent for MRI facility worth Rs.1.5 crore. Medical equipment worth Rs.47 crore had been procured and orders worth Rs.50 crore would be placed shortly.
As the process was already set in motion, government would give its authorisation to the MCI, said an official, allaying the fears of the PG medical students.
Admitting delay in obtaining MCI recognition for courses offered by several departments in the past including neurosurgery, sources said it however would not come in the way of those pursuing higher studies or seeking employment. The paediatric surgery course in Gandhi Medical College has no recognition even today.
