By NNN-Bernama,
New Delhi : In an abrupt move, the Medical Council of India (MCI) has said that it will not recognise medical degrees offered by India’s leading Manipal University, citing lack of clinical facilities and flouting of regulations.
Last week the MCI, a regulatory body of medical institutions, announced it’s decision not to recognise the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) courses offered in the university’s Kasturba Medical Colleges in Manipal and Mangalore.
“There were several inadequacies in the college which would not allow students to benefit completely from the course,” a senior MCI official was quoted as saying.
But responding to MCI’s action, Manipal University’s Pro-Chancellor, Dr H.S Ballal, said that although the MCI had derecognised the institution, the ultimate decision would depend on the Health Ministry.
“We have written to the Health Ministry and they have sent a team to observe the university. They wanted a compliance report from us.
“We have submitted the report and the matter is still pending, we hope to get a reply within two to three weeks. We hope the matter will be resolved in favour of us,” Dr Ballal told Bernama.
Manipal is popular among Malaysian students and this year 54 students have enrolled for the MBBS and dentistry courses.
Established in 1953, Kasturba, the first private medical college in India, is among the top 10 medical colleges in the country and has the largest concentration of foreign students, from over 50 countries.
Five government medical colleges in Madhya Pradesh are also on the MCI’s black list.