Nitish demands quick MCI inspection

Patna, May 19: Chief minister Nitish Kumar has written a letter to the Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad demanding Medical Council of India (MCI) inspection at the proposed medical colleges at Pawapuri, Nalanda and Bettiah in the state so that MBBS course could be started at these colleges from this academic year.

The letter was delivered to Azad in New Delhi today when Nitish met him at his residence in the national capital.

According to sources, the state government has been making efforts to meet the MCI norms for starting MBBS course at the Vardhman Institute of Medical Sciences, Pawapuri and Bettiah Medical College.

“Similar efforts have been made at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna. We have been pleading with the MCI for inspection in the current year to enable us to start the MBBS course this year. However, on a technical ground of inspection fee deposited earlier not being valid for the current year, they have not inspected the proposed colleges at Paw- apuri and Bettiah,” the letter of the chief min- ister stated.

It further read, “Since we did not receive the intimation to file a fresh application and were under the impression that the fee deposited for inspection earlier is valid for the current year as well, we did not apply afresh. The Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences has been inspected and we want MCI to follow standard yardsticks followed else- where while recognising the teaching experience of the faculty.”

The chief minister also demanded approval to start the MBBS course at Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences from this academic session.