MCI unfair to Bihar, claims health minister

Health minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey has alleged discrimination against Bihar medical institutions by the medical council of India (MCI) with regard to grant of recognition to courses being imparted by them.

Health minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey has alleged discrimination against Bihar medical institutions by the Medical Council of India (MCI) with regard to grant of recognition to courses being imparted by them.

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Taking on what he called 'double standards' of the MCI, Choubey said he aniticipated more such action from it when details of its recent inspections would be revealed.

The MCI had recently undertaken inspections of infrastructure in some medical college hospitals for the umpteenth time last month, for recognition to certain MBBS courses.

However, its recent findings in some cases have irked the minister, who has charged the council with maintaining 'separate standards' in assessing available facilities — personnel and infrastructure.

The minister told HT that in many cases, despite having less facilities — both in terms of strength of faculty members and infrastructure — compared to medical colleges of the state, colleges located in preferred states had no problem in getting MCI recognition for courses imparted by them.

"Bihar institutions, on the other hand, suffer," the minister said.

"They have this penchant for applying all yardsticks to delay recognition and acting extra tough on deficiencies," Choubey said.

He, however, admitted, "There are deficiencies in medical colleges of the state, particularly with regard to faculty strength."

Choubey said, "The MCI should consider relaxing its norms, taking note of the undertaking furnished by the state government with regard to setting right the deficiencies at the earliest."