Dr NTR University of Health Sciences: Scholars' efforts prove futile

Vijayawada: The first health University, Dr NTR University of Health Sciences (Dr NTRUHS) used to receive copies of hundreds of thesis every year. Interestingly,  the university does not have necessary facilities to preserve those copies. It throws the copies tied in in bundles all over the sections. While this has been happening over the last few years, the university administration has not paid much attention to  such important documents.

Many research scholars have been stating that despite their repeated requests, the university authorities have failed to make any amendments. It is an insult to the researcher and the guides also, they have expressed in their opinion. Though they have an option of writing a letter to the Medical Council of India (MCI), they have refrained from doing it because they don’t want to exercise that option because of the fear that the administration may target their achievements. It is observed that the authorities don't even preserve the soft copies sent to the university in the university website.

“It should at least put the abstract of each of the thesis so that it will help the future researchers," a researcher said. The university can even suggest some  topics of interest which will help to improve the state’s health system. Such a suggestion can be followed up by giving research fund. The university should publish those in university journal. The whole procedure lies in the hands of a few individuals who unofficially have full control over it, according to a retired professor working with Dr NTRUHS. The professor spoke on condition of anonymity.

“The university approach adds up to zero in encouraging research  work. It fails to bring the research work into light which is need of the hour,” he observed. When the issue was brought to the notice of the Dr NTRUHS Vice Chancellor Professor T Raviraj, he said that so far they have managed to digitalise only about 500 thesis works. “There are around five thousand research works carried out by the research scholars of the University,” the Vice Chancellor said.

Generally the thesis copies are required to be stored in the library and made available for any future references, he said and added that he would instruct the authorities concerned to see to it that they are placed in the library, for reference purpose. When the same issue was brought to the notice of the Dr NTRUHS Registrar Dr Sambangi Appala Naidu, he said that a meeting was held in this regard, after he assumed charge as the Registrar .

He said that the the issue will be addressed and efforts will be made to see that the documents are provided the sensitivity and care they deserve. “Usually four copies of the thesis will be submitted by the scholars. Of these, two will be with university and one each will be with the scholar and the department,” he said. However, the Registrar has no clarity over how useful the thesis work would be for the future generation students.