SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, March 21: An experienced university team of three members from Binod Bihari Mahto Koylanchal University (BBMKU) inspected Shahid Nirmal Mahto Medical College Hospital (SNMMCH) to see if postgraduate courses could be offered there from the 2023-24 academic year.
The team included Prof S.K Sinha, Dean of Students Welfare (DSW), Prof J.N Singh, Dean of the Faculty of Science, and Dr. Jyotiranjan Prasad, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine.
According to sources, the university team would present its assessment report to the medical college in a week’s time.
After receiving Consent of Affiliation from BBMKU, the SNMMCH authority would submit an application to NMC for approval. The NMC will then send an inspection team to Dhanbad. If a PG course is found to be feasible based on the available infrastructure and faculty strength at SNMMCH, permission will be granted.
The principal Dr. Jyotiranjan Prasad said, “I am hopeful that SNMMCH will get the Consent of Affiliation from BBMKU and NMC for PG courses as SNMMCH has fulfilled all requirements for higher education”.
On the basis of available faculty strength SNMMCH is likely to launch PG courses in 7 subjects medicine, orthopedics, surgery, obstetrics, genecology, anesthetics, and pathology.
Jharkhand has a total of five medical colleges. Ranchi’s Rajendra Institute of Medical Science (RIMS) is an autonomous body. Therefore, only Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College Hospital (MGMMCH) in Jamshedpur offers postgraduate courses in selected subjects.
The remaining four medical colleges in Dhanbad, Dumka, Hazaribagh, and Palamu only run undergraduate programs.
The National Medical Commission after six years increased 50 MBBS seats (total 100) at SNMMCH from the 2023-24 academic session. Due to the increase in seats, the college authority is optimistic about receiving PG course permission this time.