Ranchi: Ranchi MP Sanjay Seth met Union health minister Dr Harshvardhan in New Delhi on Wednesday evening and handed over a letter requesting the latter to allow admissions at the new medical colleges in Jharkhand for the 2020-21 session. Notably, admissions at these colleges have been put on hold by the National Medical Council (NMC) citing lack of infrastructure.
Earlier, a delegation from the Ranchi chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) requested Seth to raise the issue with the Union minister.
Talking to TOI, Seth said: “Jharkhand got three medical colleges in 2019 due to the untiring efforts of the then BJP-led state government and owing to the support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. These colleges had given a hope to medical aspirants from the state. The NMC’s refusal now to allow admissions has left the students disappointed. So I have requested Harshvardhan-ji to provide a one-time relaxation and allow admission in these institues.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the three medical colleges in Palamu, Hazaribag and Dumka having a capacity of 100 MBBS seats each and the first batch at the respective colleges had even taken admission. However, as these colleges couldn’t raise the required infrastructure within the stipulated time, the NMC has disallowed further admission.
Prior to Seth, chief minister Hemant Soren and state health minister Banna Gupta had also raised the issue with the NMC and the Union health ministry but without much success.
Seth said that the Union minister has given him an assurance to look into the matter and he has also been alloted a meeting with the NMC chairman on Thursday on the recommendations of Dr Harshvardhan, so that he can personally request the chairman and get the relaxation approved.
On contacted, joint secretary of IMA (Ranchi chapter) Dr Ajit Kumar said: “The state government in their appeal to the Union health ministry and the NMC had said that the work couldn’t be completed due to the nation-wide lockdown and so a one-time relaxation should be allowed.”
On being asked about the existing students in these colleges, he said: “The members of the earlier batch are pursuing their studies with the help of the existing infrastructure and manpower. If they can do so, then so can other students. Therefore, the new batch should be allowed to take admission and time be given to the local authorities to rectify the shortcomings in a time-bound manner.”