SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Nov 2: A two-day inspection by the National Medical Commission (NMC) has rekindled the hope of Palamu and Hazaribagh Medical Colleges to get permission for admission in 2021- 22 academic sessions.
Authorities of both the medical colleges today said that though the results of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) have been announced, NMC could grant permission before counseling of the qualified students.
“NMC team conducted a two-day (October 29-30) inspection of the institution and the team looked satisfied. Barring poor faculty strength, they expressed satisfaction and did not make any negative mark. In fact, the infrastructure of institutions has been streamlined and as the government has appointed professors in some departments, teachers’ deficiencies have come down to 46% from 70%,” said Dr. Shailendra Kumar, Principal of Medini Rai Medical College Hospital (MRMCH) Palamu.
The NMC team simultaneously assessed Sheikh Bhikhari Medical College Hospital (SBMCH) Hazaribagh where teachers’ deficiencies were found to be 48%. Before new appointments of professors, this rate was at 52%.
Palamu and Hazaribagh Medical Colleges were opened in 2019 with 100 MBBS seats each. But owing to infrastructure and doctors-teachers deficiencies, the NMC banned admission in these colleges from the next session (2020).
“Now NMC can give permission for admission in 2021-22 session either on the basis of present inspection or affidavit given by the institution,” said Dr Shailendra.
Dumka Medical College has already been given admission permission on the basis of the affidavit as NMC hadn’t conducted any inspection of the institution. Interestingly, the three medical colleges of Jharkhand had opened together and NMC banned admission in them together last year as well. But the ban on Dumka College was lifted on October 1 while Palamu and Hazaribagh have yet to get permission.
Road block for SNMMCH Dhanbad
However, after the publication of the NEET result, the road for Shahid Nirmal Mahto Medical College Hospital (SNMMCH) Dhanbad to get 100 MBBS seats permission seems closed for 2021-22 academic sessions.
A senior authority of SNMMCH today said that the NMC team did not come for any inspection to the institution to allow an additional 50 MBBS seats that were deducted earlier.
“Since NEET result has been declared, now there is a remote chance that NMC will increase the seats,” said the authority.
