Chintpurni Medical College, Pathankot, has been forbidden from admitting new MBBS students for the academic year 2023-2024 by the National Medical Commission (NMC). The NMC made this decision after identifying major shortcomings at the medical college, including concerns with faculty, patient load, and infrastructure. Earlier last year, a panel from Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) identified severe flaws in the college’s patient load, faculty, and facilities.

Glaring infrastructure and patient load deficiencies

Concerns are raised by the BFUHS Panel Report.

According to the BFUHS panel’s assessment, despite gaining NMC permission the previous year, Chintpurni Medical College lacked adequate facilities. The research also alleged that MBBS students’ careers were jeopardized due to a lack of patients, inadequate facilities, and a teacher shortage. The Punjab Government expressed significant worry over the situation after obtaining this report. The State Additional Chief Secretary of Medical Education and Research, Anurag Agarwal, wrote to the Director of NMC, highlighting the college’s inability to follow statutory norms and guidelines.

Overcharging Students and Serious Future Concerns

In addition to infrastructure concerns, the Additional Chief Secretary emphasized the medical college’s practice of charging students more than the permitted fees. This prompted severe concerns regarding the future of the medical students enrolled. In his letter, he requested the NMC to take prompt action against the college administration and ensure compliance with the commission’s laws and regulations.

NMC Inspection Reveals Serious Flaws

Faculty, patient load, and infrastructure all fall short of expectations.

Following an investigation by the NMC, major inadequacies in faculty, patient load, and infrastructure were discovered. As a result, the highest medical commission has denied the medical institution permission to admit MBBS students for the current academic year. Swaran Salaria, the College’s Chairman, recognised the flaws discovered by the NMC but expressed hope that they would be corrected, allowing the college to admit a new batch after meeting certain standards or undertaking another inspection.

Shutdown Controversy and Previous Violations

MCI’s Findings and Recommendations

Chintpurni Medical College’s contentious past involves the unauthorized admission of students without clearance from the Medical Council of India (MCI) from its inception in 2011. The college lacked the requisite infrastructure and did not provide suitable medical study facilities. As a result, the MCI’s Executive Committee recommended a two-year ban on admitting students (2017-18 and 2018-19) as well as the cancellation of a bank guarantee worth Rs 2 crores provided by the college at the time of recognition. This recommendation was accepted by the Central Government.

Transferring Students and Supreme Court Intervention

Students from the 2011-12 and 2014-15 batches were transferred to other medical colleges in the state as a result of the MCI’s activities, as required by the Supreme Court. The court denied the petition contesting the Central Government’s instructions and indicated that once the ban period ended, the college might request permission to admit students for the academic years 2019-20 and 2020-21. After evaluating the infrastructure, the NMC awarded Chintpurni Medical College permission to admit students to 150 MBBS seats last year.