Gujarat seeks review of MCI bar on three medical colleges

The Gujarat government today requested the Medical Council of India (MCI) to review its decision rejecting proposals for two new medical colleges in the state and the renewal of permission to run an existing one.

On 13 July the MCI rejected the proposals for starting government medical colleges at Sola in Ahmedabad and Gotri in Vadodara, and withheld the permission of K J Mehta medical college in Bhavnagar, which had been operational since last year.

State health minister Jaynarayan Vyas said the decision would seriously hamper the state's efforts to meet the shortage of medical practitioners.

''Gujarat is facing a serious shortage of qualified doctors. Of the total 3,053 posts for class two medical officers, over 700 are lying vacant. Besides the existing vacancies, the state needs more medicos for it's rural areas,'' Vyas told IANS.

He also said that a high-level team including the state health secretary and the director of medical education was already in Delhi for the purpose of requesting a review.

Meanwhile, the Gujarat government has now imposed a limit on the payment of non-private practicing allowance (NPPA) to its senior medical professionals.

A government resolution, issued by the finance department, has said that the basic pay and the NPPA should not exceed Rs75,500 per month.

This is likely to cap the emoluments of at least 250 senior medicos and seems to be designed to ensure that their salaries do not cross those of principal secretaries of the Gujarat government.