In yet another blow to medical aspirants in the region, the Centre has barred Pathankot-based Chintpurni Medical College from conducting admissions for two years.
The institute, which has already been put on a show-cause notice by the Punjab government and fears withdrawal of all permissions granted to establish it in 2011, has 150 MBBS seats. The move comes soon after Punjab lost 100 MBBS seats with the closure of Banur-based Gian Sagar Medical College.
In a letter issued to the college management, the Union ministry of health and family welfare has stated that it had given conditional recognition to the college last year on the ground that it will improve its deficiencies, which it failed to accomplish. The Pathankot institute is among 32 private medical colleges that have been barred from admitting students for 2017-18 and 2018-19 sessions, while overruling a Supreme Court panel that had cleared their allegedly substandard facilities. the ministry has, however, allowed the existing students to continue studying at these institutes.
In light of the ministry’s May 31 letter and the notice issued by the state government, the revival of the college looks extremely difficult.
Punjab secretary, medical education, Vikas Partap said the government is concerned about students being provided “proven deficient infrastructure”. He said the department has summoned the college management on June 7 to comply with the state government’s show-cause notice.
“The next course of action on the fate of students will be decided at the competent level,” he said.
PARENTS DEMAND SHIFTING OF STUDENTS
Chintpurni Medical College currently has a strength of 300 students. Of these, 150 students enrolled in the 2014-15 session are already fighting a legal battle in the Punjab and Haryana high court, demanding that they be shifted to another medical college. Another batch was admitted last year (2016-17), whose fate is also uncertain now.
Sushil Garg, a Bathinda-based parent, said the state’s medical education department has played a proactive role in shifting the students of Gian Sagar college in order to protect their careers. “Our wards should also be shifted from a college that has no clinical infrastructure and faculty. In such a scenario, who will trust them with the precious lives of patients?” he questioned.
{{/usCountry}}Sushil Garg, a Bathinda-based parent, said the state’s medical education department has played a proactive role in shifting the students of Gian Sagar college in order to protect their careers. “Our wards should also be shifted from a college that has no clinical infrastructure and faculty. In such a scenario, who will trust them with the precious lives of patients?” he questioned.
{{/usCountry}}SHUTTING COLLEGE NOT A SOLUTION: CHAIRMAN
College chairman Swaran Salaria, who is also a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, said closing down the college was not a solution .
“I fully intend to run this institute and will approach the Union health ministry to sort out the matter and start new batches in the next session,” he said.