NMC withdraws notification to derecognize two TN medical colleges

Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma.Subramanian said the National Medical Commission (NMC) has withdrawn its notices de-recognising two Government Medical College hospitals for violating certain norms and renewed the recognition for the next five years.

Talking to reporters here, he said admissions in the Government Stanley Medical College Hospital and the Government Dharmapuri Medical College Hospitals would be made this year and both the institutions would continueto operate.

“Stanley Medical College in Chennai, and Dharmapuri Medical College have been re-accredited. The derecognition certificate of Government Stanley Medical College Hospital and Dharmapuri Government Medical College has been withdrawn by NMC and an unrestricted certificate has been given for the next 5 years after the minor deficiencies in CCTV, Aadhaar-linked biometric attendance procedures, etc. have been rectified in these medical colleges.

A couple of minor deficiencies in government medical colleges have been rectified. The NMC team visited the colleges yesterday and inspected them. About two weeks back, the NMC had issued notices to withdraw recognition to three medical colleges in Tamil Nadu–Government Stanley Medical College, Government Dharmapuri Medical College and K.A.P Viswanathan Government Medical College in Tiruchi–citing “minor deficiencies” of CCTV cameras and biometric system of attendance. The NMC has withdrawn its notices de-recognising the Government Stanley Medical College Hospital and Government Dharmapuri Medical College last night, the Minister said.

The NMC will issue a written communication shortly, Subramanian said.

The Minister had earlier said he would take up the issue of de-recognition of medical colleges in the State with the Union Health Ministry and thathe would also visit New Delhi to get the issue addressed as the state government would not allow Medical College hospitals to be de-recognised for minor deficiencies.

Subramanian said a team of health officials from Tamil Nadu visited New Delhi and promised that these “minor deficiencies” will be addressed.

They also explained that “Being summer seasons, incidents such as 10 to 15% of doctors and allied health staff going on leave including as per their entitlement will occur. This is not a ground for de-recognising an institution, he added.

The deficiencies pointed out in Government Stanley Medical College–CCTV cameras and biometric attendance — were rectified and the Dean submitted a report to the NMC team.

“Following this, NMC inspected the Stanley Medical College and Dharmapuri Medical College. It conducted field-level and virtual inspections for two days and on Wednesday night withdrew its notices for these two colleges”, the Minister said. The NMC had orally said last night that it would be withdrawing the letters and would be continuing recognition for the next five years and that an official communication will be sent.

The NMC also said that there is no bar on the colleges functioning for the next five years.

The written communication will be issued today or tomorrow. The virtual inspection for Tiruchi medical college will be held tomorrow, he said. Observing said that some political party leaders had created an illusion in the media that medical colleges were being shut down, Subramanian said “We had already explained that this was a regular process. NMC had conducted inspections in nearly 140 medical colleges across the country. It is a continuous process for NMC to point out minor deficiencies and the respective departments to rectify them,” he added.

“Around 40 medical colleges across the country have lost recognition over the past two months allegedly for not following standards set by the NMC and 100 more are under scanner, officials said. United News of India