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| The Medical Council of India team at SCB Medical College in Cuttack on Wednesday. Picture by Badrika Nath Das. |
Cuttack, Aug. 24: A four-member team of the Medical Council of India today visited S.C.B Medical College and Hospital here to make fresh assessment of the government’s proposal to increase the MBBS seats.
The team, led by Dr V. Gowda, professor of the medicine department, Bangalore, took stock of the available infrastructure and functioning of various departments, including the out-patient department, central ICU, surgery and casualty and trauma care centre.
“The main purpose of our visit is to review the infrastructure and other facilities at the hospital. During our three-day stay, we would also review the process for conducting the PG examination that is likely to be held tomorrow,” said Gowda.
Earlier, in April, another team visited the hospital to assess the infrastructure against the renewal of increased seats here.
Official sources said the government had earlier submitted a proposal to the council to increase the number of MBBS seats in the medical college from 150 to 250.
The council had, however, asked the government to first submit a detailed report on the available infrastructure and manpower in a phased manner. The seats were increased to 150 for the 2003-04 academic session.
But, in the following year, the council did not approve the increase of seats owing to lack of the required infrastructure and facilities.
In 2005-06 and 2007-08, the renewals were made after the government said the development of infrastructure and facilities had been underway at the hospital.
As per guidelines, the medical college has been reviewed every year for the past five years to take stock of the achievements of annual targets fixed by the council.
In another development, the hospital officials appear to be positive about the approval of the additional MBBS seats as the state government has been considering a proposal to raise the MBBS seats up to 250 in three medical colleges.
“The council team visiting medical colleges is a routine affair. The team will inspect the infrastructure and manpower and we have certain work to overcome the lacuna, which will be highlighted by the team,” said B.N. Moharana, emergency officer of the S.C.B. Medical College.