Bernard Marak alleges violation of National Medical Commission norms by PA Sangma International Medical College and Hospital
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Feb 20: The controversy surrounding the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) has continued to rage with the BJP on Thursday asking the state government to declare if it is a private or government institute.
The party also asked the government to clarify why USTM has a higher fee structure compared to most other state-run institutions.
The fresh controversy erupted after BJP leader and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma accused USTM of issuing fake degrees. The Meghalaya government had rubbished his charge as has the university.
“USTM is a state university. As far as we are concerned, it is mandated by the legislative assembly of Meghalaya. Degrees are recognised by UGC and Medical Council. Therefore, there is no question of it being fake. It is a genuine university supported by the Meghalaya government,” Chief Secretary DP Wahlang had stated.
Questioning the statement, BJP’s Meghalaya general secretary Wankitbok Pohshna said, “The university’s definition, as written in its website, is that it is a state private university; meaning it was set up by an act of the State Legislative Assembly in the year 2008. It is run by the ERD Foundation Guwahati making it essentially private in nature. By definition, a state university is maintained by the state government and administered by a public authority and follows the UGC syllabus.”
“A state university or any institution supported by the state has a lower fee structure to ensure that citizens from all income groups have easy access to inexpensive education. Most state-run institutions in Meghalaya charge lower fees when compared to USTM; much lower. Would the Government of Meghalaya clarify what caused this difference of fees if USTM is indeed a state university?” Pohshna asked.
Referring to the state government’s statement to the media that it supports USTM, he said the people of the state are eager to know the type and level of this government support.
“Does the support constitute subsidies, financial doles or administrative advice?” he asked.
He said these questions are extremely important at this point as the accusations levelled by the Assam CM planted a seed of doubt into the minds of students and a proper clarification is necessary to allay fears.
“It has also been mentioned by the Chief Secretary that the degrees of USTM are recognised by the UGC. However, that is no guarantee against foul play. The degrees can always be given to people who pay for them, without the candidate going through a proper evaluation process that judges the extent of the candidate’s knowledge; as is mandated under a recognised education system. We would like to know if USTM is following the prescribed process or it is simply flooding the market with unqualified candidates holding degrees,” Pohshna added.
Adding to the controversy, BJP vice president and Tura MDC Bernard N Marak alleged that the PA Sangma International Medical College and Hospital in USTM campus has violated the National Medical Commission (NCM) guidelines “which make it mandatory to own and manage a hospital that has at least 300 beds with required infrastructure facilities worthy of being developed into a teaching institution on the campus of the medical college that was proposed.”
Pointing out that there is no hospital in the PA Sangma International Medical College and Hospital at USTM campus, Marak said, “Concerned authorities and the state government should ensure that no violation of the NCM guidelines occurs and the institution adheres to the guidelines. This matter is raised as I read that a 300-bed hospital is mandatory to run the medical college”.
He said if there is any kind of violation, then the future of the students, who are spending lakhs of rupees with high aspiration of serving the sick patients, will be ruined.
“The new regulation formed by the NCM has made it mandatory for the medical colleges to establish a skill laboratory for training students and the presence of student counselling services to help students cope with stress better and feel relaxed. The skill laboratory also seems to be absent,” he said.
“The state government and the management should clarify with details of how the medical college can be run without a 300-bed hospital and a skill laboratory. Proper clarification of how arrangements are made and how trainings are imparted without adhering to the guidelines is sought. This will ensure that the students who are spending huge amount for their course are not deprived at any cost,” he added.