From Our Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI: Students pursuing MBBS course in the North East Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) are facing a bleak future in the absence of mandatory recognition from the Medical Council of India (MCI), said Meghalaya’s Deputy Chief Minister Rowell Lygdoh.
Talking to The Shillong Times here on Monday, Lyngdoh, who also holds Health portfolio, said the students pursing this most sought after course will be left in the lurch if the MCI does not give recognition.
“I have personally raised this matter several times with the Health Ministry and even in the health ministers’ meeting held last week,” he said.
The first batch of students will complete five-year course in 2013.
The unfortunate students can not take recourse of law even in the apex court. The Supreme Court in a recent judgment had ruled that the students who are already educated should have been aware of pros and cons of a course they are studying. The students went on an indefinite strike on June 27 seeking the MCI recognition for the MBBS courses of the institute and demanding filling up of posts for faculty members. While thanking the Health Ministry for appointing a full time Director after a long time, he said several posts are still lying vacant. “Though the equipments are there, there is a shortage of faculty,” he said. An MCI team recently conducted an inspection of the institute, but is yet to make any announcement as far as granting recognition is concerned. But in the absence of the MCI recognition it will be difficult even to issue certificates to successful students, the Minister said.