Students see red as GMC misses bus to more MD seats

PANAJI: Goa Medical College (GMC) missed the opportunity to increase its doctoral and masters seats, as it failed to apply for an upgrade for its diploma seats before the ministry of health and family affairs. The GMC could have upped its tally of 139 MD and MS seats by 22 if it had availed of this one-time upgradation offer by the ministry.

The Union ministry’s public notice, issued on January 19, stated that only applications received till January 25 would be considered. An official attached to the hospital said it was confirmed that the GMC did not submit an application for upgradation, adding that this has angered students and parents alike.

As many as 22 diploma seats to the faculties of radiology, paediatrics, orthopaedics, preventive and social medicine, anaesthesia and gynaecology could have been upgraded.

There is a huge demand for radiology, orthopaedics and paediatrics, and for admission to these faculties the competition is always stiff, the official said. Applying for the upgradation would have been very beneficial for students, the official added.

Dean GMC Dr Pradeep Naik could not be contacted. Several calls and a message to his cellphone went unanswered. The official said that the explanation offered by the college administration was that there was a fear of losing the seats on upgradation if any deficiencies were observed later.

“This is the most absurd explanation for not taking up the offer,” he said. The Medical Council of India (MCI) inspection of the upgraded seats would have been held three years later, and in any case would not have resulted in cancelling of the diploma seats.

Students attempts to seek an explanation from the dean also did not elicit any response. Health minister Vishwajit Rane, who was in Delhi, said he has spoken to secretary health J Ashok Kumar. He said he would issue a written explanation on his return on Thursday.

A senior officer with the GMC said the situation could still be salvaged provided an application is made justifying the delay. Even if the seat matrix is out, he said upgraded seats can be added in the second round of counselling, which will be most beneficial for the state’s students.