Postgraduate Courses In Medical Colleges, Faculty Crunch Hits Dispur’s Plan

GUWAHATI: At a time when Dispur is making claims of solving doctors’ shortage in the State by setting up several medical colleges, the present MBBS students in Jorhat, Tezpur and Barpeta medical colleges are facing uncertainty to pursue postgraduate courses in important subjects relating to critical care.

The Medical Council of India (MCI) last year rejected the Assam Government’s proposals to introduce postgraduate courses in important subjects in Barpeta, Jorhat and Tezpur medical colleges due to inadequate number of faculties.

Even though the Directorate of Medical Education (DME), Assam had planned to introduce the postgraduate courses in the above mentioned medical colleges from the last academic year (2018-19), the MCI’s rejection jeopardized such plan.

“It is still not known whether the Jorhat, Tezpur and Barpeta medical colleges will be able to introduce the next academic year (2019-20) starting from August this year. The strength of faculties in these institutions has not yet been enhanced,” a source in the DME said.

Sources said Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College & Hospital, Barpeta is yet to receive the MCI’s nod to introduce postgraduate courses in Anatomy, Physiology, Bio-Chemistry, Pharmacology, Forensic Medicine, Micro-Biology, Community Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Anesthesiology, Radio-diagnosis, Ophthalmology, ENT, General Medicine and General Surgery.

Tezpur Medical College & Hospital has been barred from introducing postgraduate courses in Anatomy, Physiology and Bio-Chemistry.

A retired Principal of Gauhati Medical College & Hospital said that the present uncertainty in introducing PG courses has exposed as how the State Government is setting up medical colleges without bothering to create adequate faculties to teach future doctors. “Without adequate number of faculties, mere setting up medical colleges will not produce quality doctors. If we cannot produce quality doctors, the campaign to deliver better healthcare is irrelevant,” he added.

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