Axe looms on ortho course

SANJEEV KUMAR VERMA

Patna: The Medical Council of India (MCI) has threatened to de-recognise the postgraduate course in orthopaedics at Patna Medical College, the state's largest and oldest medical college.

"The Postgraduate Medical Education Committee considered the Council Assessor's Report (9/6/2017) and decided to recommend not to renew the recognition of MS (Orthopaedics) qualification at Patna Medical College...," says the MCI's letter to the Patna Medical College principal, which is dated November 9, 2017.

There are six MS (Orthopaedics) seats at Patna Medical College.

The letter cites 24 shortcomings, including the absence of even a single professor to teach the course though two posts are sanctioned. "There used to be only one professor till 2014 and the post fell vacant after Dr Arjun Singh retired," said a senior doctor at the orthopaedics department.

The letter points out that the number of beds in four of the department's five units is above the ceiling of 30: "There are 5 units; Units I, II, III, IV have 58, 55, 51, 43 beds respectively which is not as per regulations."

The letter cites four operation tables in three operation theatres (OTs) when an OT cannot have more than one table, absence of equipment - such as knee and hip arthoplasty sets - no purchase of books by the department library in three years, and decline in number of major operations from 2,450 in 2014 to 1,618 in 2016.

"Some health department officials are not allowing corrective steps to be taken," said JDU MLC Satish Kumar. "I would raise this issue as the inefficiency of a few is bringing a bad name to the state and also posing a question mark on the future of students."

He said a few other departments were under a similar cloud. A source in the college confirmed that the gynaecology and ear, nose & throat courses are under the scanner.

College principal Vijay Kumar Gupta said he would seek a compliance report from the orthopaedics department and the state health department and appeal to the MCI.

"I am aware of the issue," health minister Mangal Pandey said when contacted. "Officials have been directed to take corrective steps at the earliest. I am personally monitoring the developments."

He hoped the MCI would not scrap the course: "If needed, assurances would be given by the state government to the MCI."