New Delhi, July 15: Jamia Hamdard University, which is known for its contributions in the field of health care sciences, has added another feather to its cap with its new Medical College becoming operational after a green signal given by the Medical Council of India.
 The ball was set rolling in the Capital’s only public-private University to start the first session with the entrance examination for the MBBS course taking place here on Sunday.
 A high point of the test held in the University premises was that 55 per cent of those who appeared were girls. There were about 60 to 70 candidates from Jammu and Kashmir (mostly from Kashmir) who appeared to try their luck for admission to the course.
 Giving an insight into the University’s endeavour in starting the course after a persistent effort of over three years, Vice-Chancellor Dr G N Qazi, a native of Kashmir, said that the new college has 100 seats out of which 42 seats are in the general category while an equal number has been reserved for the Muslim minority and one for the physically disabled.
 The remaining 15 seats have been earmarked for the Management quota.
 Elaborating on the fee structure, he said that a fee of Rs six lakh per annum will be charged for a general quota seat and Rs 15 lakh per annum for the management quota one. This fee will be covering only 30 per cent of the course cost while the rest will be borne by the University.
 Replying to a question regarding this high fee structure, he said that despite the University bearing 70 per cent of the course cost in the beginning it can be reviewed later on after we cross the no-loss barrier in the years to come.
 Dr Qazi dismissed the view that introduction of the MBBS course would in any way undermine the Unani medicine avenue which has been pioneered by the University since its inception. “There is no denying the fact that Hamdard is number one in Unani medicines. But it was a considered view of our founder Hakim Abdul Hamid that all streams of medicines should run in coordination to benefit the suffering humanity. That is why he had introduced science and pharmacy alongwith Unani,” he added.
 Although the University already has a mixed-use hospital, it is moving towards having specialised institutions for Unani and Allopathic. Apart from the existing 150 bed Unani hospital, the University is also setting up a 350 bed Allopathic hospital.
 He rejected the charge that the introduction of the MBBS course will any way diminish the significance of the Unani medicine. “We have received 3000 application for entrance examination to fill 50 seats in Unani medicine,” added.
 Dr Qazi said that the Medical Institute of Jamia Hamdard will have all medical and para-medical courses under one roof. This will not be applicable to Unani course which is managed as an independent stream.
 In addition to MBBS, six new courses have been started. These include B.Sc Medical Imaging Technology, B Sc Medical Record and Health Information Management, B Sc Optometry, B Sc Cardiology Laboratory Techniques, B.Sc Operation Theatre Techniques and B Sc Dialysis Techniques.
 Registrar of the University Dr Firdous A Wani, who also belongs to Kashmir, was also present on the occasion.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 15 Jul 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 15 Jul 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 16 Jul 2012 00:00:00 IST