May 30: In view of the poor clinical and teaching facilities, the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) has recommended to the Sena-BJP government that admissions to the Terna Medical College, Navi Mumbai, should be stopped from the ensuing academic year if it failed to comply with the recommendations within three months.

Established five years ago, the Terna Medical College is directly controlled by senior Congress leader and former Home Minister Padamsinh Patil, a doctor by profession. Significantly, barring a few, all the private medical colleges are directly controlled by politicians, most of them belonging to the Congress.

When a high-level inspection team of MMC visited the Terna Medical College, they found the library was inadequate to meet the requirements of 100 students. The heads of department of anatomy and forensic medicine were above 65 years of age, which also was in violation of the norms laid down by the Medical Council of India.

While there was no hostel near the college, the occupancy of beds at Panvel Hospital was less than 20 per cent of the hospital's strength.

While the college is located in the City and Industrial Development Corporation's building at Navi Mumbai, the attached hospitals are located at Panvel, Kalyan, Dombivli and Thane. ``The location of the college and hospitals is very wide apart and therefore it is felt that it would be very difficult for students to cope with travelling, attending college and clinical meetings,'' a senior member of MMC told Express Newsline.

``It is recommended to the state government that admissions to the Terna Medical College be stopped from the next session unless the management fulfils the requirements for recognition within three months,'' a resolution adopted by the MMC executive committee stated.

The MMC resolved that in view of the severe deficiencies, the college is not granted recognition and permanent registration should not be granted to the students. The MMC also decided to point out the deficiencies to the state government, Mumbai University, Medical Council of India and Directorate of Medical Education and Research.

MMC members remarked that in the interest of the students and to maintain high standards in the medical profession, the state government should wind up all such medical colleges which have failed to comply with the requirements of the Maharashtra Medical Council as well as the Medical Council of India.

Most of these colleges that have been set up by leading politicians have not been able to improve the standard of medical education. On the contrary, these institutions have been used to garner funds for political purposes. ``They will produce extremely poor doctors,'' a MMC member said.

Replying to a question, the MMC member said in order to ensure that the students studying in these colleges do not suffer, they can be shifted to nearby colleges. ``If a specific proposal is moved, I do not think either the MMC or MCI will object,'' he added. Another member felt the state government should set up a high-level team of experts in the field of medical education and hospital administration to review the performance vis-a-vis facilities available in these institutions and wind up all erring colleges.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that at a meeting convened by Minister for Health and Medical Education Daulatrao Aher, the management of Terna Medical College agreed to comply with the recommendations within the stipulated period.

"Even if they submit such a report, there will be fresh inspection e MMC team to verify the information,'' the MMC member added.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.