Nellore: Medical college in a fix over MCI rules

Nellore: Despite warning from the Medical Council of India (MCI) to cancel admissions for the 4th year in the AC Subba Reddy Government Medical College at Nellore for various lapses including shortage of teaching staff, nursing and paramedical staff besides equipment, the state government has failed to speed up the process of recruitment for the college.

The MCI had found 33 odd deficiencies during its inspection in August last year to renew permission for MBBS 4th year batch. Among others, the team had pointed out the dearth of teaching, nursing and paramedical staff in its inspection report.

As per MCI report, shortage with respect to teaching staff was 36.75 per cent and residents to the extent of 45.07 per cent. Only 112 nursing staff were available as against the required 223. In case of paramedical and non-teaching staff, 21 paramedical and non-teaching staff was available against the requirement of 162.

MCI also objected to the use of study and visitors rooms in the student hostels as storerooms. Only 31 rooms were available against 115 needed in the residents' hostel and there were no ancillary facilities such as visitors' room, AC study room with computer and internet facility besides recreation room.

College authorities persuaded their higher authorities to address some of the lapses and sent the compliance report to the MCI in the last week of December.

However, the MCI expressed reservations with the report in their re-ply received by the college about a week back.

MCI observed that the compliance is not satisfactory, pointing out the three deficiencies addressed partially and five that have not yet been rectified. The MCI gave another 15 days to the college to rectify all the lapses and submit compliance report.

Meanwhile, the college principal G. Ravi Prabhu, said they have brought down the teaching staff shortage to 19.6 per cent from 37 per cent and expressed confidence in filling all the vacant posts pointing to promotions on the anvil for professors and associate professors followed by assistant professors.

He said the recruitment process for nursing staff has also been completed but appointment orders are yet to be issued. With respect to paramedical staff, the recruitment is still to take place. He said AP Medical Service & Infrastructure Development Corporation has invited tenders to procure equipment while referring to MCI comment on the equipment.

He said the newly built general hospital will be opened in next 2 or 3 months and it will put an end to majority of issues raised by MCI. He also expressed confidence in obtaining the permission for 4th year admissions.