Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) here has failed to submit a proposal to medical council of India (MCI) for getting approval to increase its postgraduate (PG) medical seats, even as the last date for submitting such proposal has lapsed. The failure on its part to submit the proposal could prove costly to medical education and health sector in Kashmir.
On 22 December 2017, MCI wrote to all government medical colleges and post graduate medical institutes in India about one-time increase in PG seats (clinical) for 2018-19 session under the revised teacher-student ratio and sought proposals for the same.
The last date for submission of proposals was declared as 19 January 2018, after which “the proposal will not be entertained on account of time schedule limitations”, the communication said.
However, SKIMS Soura, as well as SKIMS Medical College (SKIMS MC) Bemina are yet to furnish the proposal.
In addition, SKIMS has also missed the slot for presentation of the proposal in person, as was mandated by MCI in its letter dated 27 December 2017.
As per this letter, J&K had been allotted 16 January 2018 as the day for submission of details in person by dean or an authorized representative.
The failure on its part to do the needful may result in SKIMS missing the chance to get its MD seats increased.
A delegation of MD aspirants told Greater Kashmir that their career was at stake due to the “indifference” shown by the SKIMS to this “golden opportunity” provided by MCI.
“In Kashmir, there is already dearth of medical colleges and very limited opportunities for MD/MS. This chance, if fructified, could have helped a great deal in expanding our opportunities,” Dr Mohammad Saleem, a member of the delegation said.
Director SKIMS Dr Omar Javed Shah said he had sought the requisite documentation from all the heads of the departments of SKIMS Soura and SKIMS MC Bemina and it would be submitted to MCI soon.
“We are hopeful to get a relaxation in dates and quite positive that PG seats will see a great increase in our two institutes,” he said.
Asked about the reasons for the delay, he blamed the “crisis at SKIMS” while referring to the government decision to remove Dr AG Ahangar as director of the institute in the first week of January. “That in-between period of one week caused much of delay,” he said.
During the last academic session, Kashmir medical colleges were able to get a go-ahead for 57 postgraduate seats, 37 at government medical college Srinagar and 20 at SKIMS MC, although the expected increase was much more.
Last year also, there was a fiasco regarding submission of proposal to the MCI for increase in seats by SKIMS Medical College, which was resolved after MCI extended the last date for application. The decision for increase in medical specialties was taken in January 2017 as part of Government of India’s (GoI) initiative to revamp medical education and address the shortage of doctors all over country, J&K included. Consequently, teacher-student ratio was revised to allow for the increase in intake capacity of medical colleges.