I am For Medical College
The Member of
Parliament Bishnu Pada Ray today clarified his stand on the proposed Medical College
and said that he never mentioned that the Medical College Medical College
Bishnu was
addressing the media over the controversy involving him. He expressed happiness
about people’s participation in this critical issue, which he believes is a
beginning and very good sign for any development.
“Politicians
and Administration, if not criticized, they will not look back to correct
themselves,” he opined.
Slamming the
media reports, he said, “A wrong message has somehow been spread by my ill
wishers that MP is against opening of MBBS College in Port Blair, which is
absolutely an incorrect message. “I have never said that MBBS College
He also
cleared his name and said that there was no such proposal to favour Amrita
Institute as is being spread.
“Everybody
knows that no institution can be selected on nomination basis in the Govt.
system and rules. I am an open book and there is no hidden agenda or any black
spot so far,” Bishnu added.
However,
Bishnu once again drew attention towards the merits of PG course over UG
course.
“Looking at
the complex requirement of the UG courses compared to PG courses, which is
comparably lesser complex, I had a justified reason to advocate for PG course
to start with,” he said.
He also
listed steps taken by him to ensure availability of immediate specialists’
treatment at Port Blair
“I had
written a letter on 29th Oct. 2013 to Hon’ble Lt. Governor to immediately start
PG Courses in Medicine and Surgery with various Super Specialty Hospital
Services like Cardiology – Heart Diseases, Gastroenterology- Gastric/ lever
transplantation problems, Nephrology – Super Specialty in Kidney treatment,
Oncology – Super Specialty in cancer treatment, Neurology – Super Specialty in
brain, nerves, etc, Cardio-vascular and Thoracic Surgery, Neurosurgery,
Gastrointestinal Surgery, Urology – Urine, Bladder,” he added.
He further
said that he had requested the Administration in view of large number of such
cases being detected for which there is no specialized treatment available at
Port Blair. Starting of these courses will immediately bring in specialists who
can render immediate treatment to Islanders in case of stroke, heart blockage,
kidney failure, cancer, liver diseases, mother and child care, digestion
issues, etc. abundant in Islands . At the same
time the local students will get admission in those PG cases, who in turn can
serve the Islands .
He also gave
the example of PGI Chandigarh which has established PG Courses on the same
lines.
Bishnu said
that the Lt. Governor acknowledging his letter had informed that he has
recently taken a review of the complete health services and given necessary instructions
to fill in the existing gaps. LG also replied that detailed proposals are being
worked out by Principal Secretary (Health).
Bishnu,
however, mentioned that though he had written to the Lieutenant Governor about
the issue, nothing has so far been done on his suggestions.
Citing
various deficiencies of the Administration, he said, “The Administration could
not fill up 38 posts of Medical Specialists for the past 20 years, I had
reasons to lack confidence, as the UG courses require as much as 244 faculties.
The requirement of faculty for PG courses being only 30, and tapping the
resources in PPP mode would be much easier compared to 244 faculties required
for UG course.”
Taking a jibe
on a recent interview given to the press by the Director of Health Services
regarding tapping of faculty from the Defence, CHS and Private sectors, and the
response the Administration got, Bishnu said, “I have gone through a CAG
observation under the caption, “Critical Shortage of doctors in defence
hospitals”, which says the defence hospitals had a deficiency of 298 specialist
doctors in armed forces against the authorized strength of 2217.”
“When there
is shortage in defence itself, how the Administration will get faculty support
from defence?” he questioned.
Bishnu further
mentioned some of the recent issues that compelled him to pro-actively
intervene in the issue and to impress upon the need for a conscious decision.
He cited the
examples of nine Medical Colleges in Maharashtra State which had to give up 500
out of total 2100 MBBS Seats due to lack of infrastructure and shortage of
Faculty Members. Nearly 1000 staffers are vacant as reported by newspaper
“Mumbai Mirror” on 21.08.2014.
He also
mentioned about the minutes of the Executive Committee meeting of Medical Council
of India dated 14.03.2014, which indicated shortage of infrastructure and
faculties in a number of colleges that may lead to scaling down the seats or
even suspension.
Citing a
Press Information Bureau report dated 8.8.2014 regarding periodical assessment
carried out by the Medical Council for grant of permission to admit students,
he said that MCI has not recommended maximum number of cases due to
shortcomings as mentioned in the report emerged from the reply to a Parliament
question by Health Minister.
He also
delved in depth about the financial implication and said that the
infrastructure requirement for UG courses is massive worth Rs. 500 Crores
approx. compared to minimum infrastructure required for PG course worth Rs. 40
Crores approx. Similarly, the recurring expenditure on operation of UG College
is worked out to be Rs. 109 Crores and Rs. 38 Crores only for PG College.
He questioned
the logic of shifting from PPP mode to Society run Medical College and
explained that the High Court had passed an order in 2005 to start Medical
College and a consultant M/s HSCC (I) Ltd. was appointed at a cost of Rs. 1.75
Crores, which in 2010 submitted its report recommending establishment of
Medical College in PPP Mode.
Bishnu added,
“The 12th Standing Committee on IDA discussed regarding establishment of MBBS College
He blamed the
lower level officers for reversing the order and said, “The Proposal to open
college in PPP mode was reversed by lower level officers on 6.8.2013 and took a
decision by them to establish the college through a Govt. Society.”
He also
highlighted certain failures on the part of Administration especially the
inability to fill up 38 posts of specialists for the past many years, delay in
filling up of regular 30 GDMO posts, delay in finalization of under-sea OFC
cable project, cancellation of the sewerage treatment project, delay in
finalization of the project for construction of bridges across creeks in ATR,
poor maintenance of National Highway and ATR, delay in implementation of PMGSY
roads, delay in execution of NRDWP projects and closure of Forest Plantation
Development Corporation.
He
categorically targeted ANIIDCO and said that without IMFL, the Corporation is a
total failure. He also lauded Lakshadweep Development Corporation Limited and
said that they are doing much better compared to ANIIDCO.
He also
blamed the Administration for delay in creation of National Highway Circle and
dedicated Water Circle
Bishnu said
that the growth rate of Islands as reported in
the Planning Commission’s report is just 0.98%.
He drew
attention towards the corpus fund of Rs 43 Crores lying with the Ministry of
Road Transport and Highways and said that the Administration is unaware of the
cess money lying unutilized.
Bishnu said
that there has been significant delay in creation of 38 posts of ITI, 628 posts
of Transport Department, 71 posts of higher education, 481 posts of Police
Department, 20 posts of Shipping Department, 22 posts of Health Department, 73
posts of Official Language Wing, 140 posts of Disaster Management and 4 posts
of Civil Aviation Department.
The Member of
Parliament told the media that he had discussed the issue of Medical College
He advised
the Administration to immediately float an Expression of Interest (EOI) for
engagement of faculties and assess the response and suggested that the
investment on infrastructure may be restricted till such time adequacy of
faculty is assessed, so as to avoid wasteful expenditure.
He also
suggested simultaneously preparing a contingent plan for establishment of Post Graduate
College
“The
Administration may also invite reputed Medical Institutions for a preliminary
discussion to explore viability of PPP mode as has been done by Odisha
Government in Rayagada and Gajapati Districts,” he suggested.
He once again
reiterated his view and said, “I am fully in favour of establishment of Medical College Island
should get 100% benefit of the project.”
Bishnu said
that he along with the senior officers of the Administration will meet the
Union Minister of Health Dr. Harshavardhan on 28th of this month to reach some
conclusion on the issue.
Bishnu Pada
Ray reminded the Islanders that he is an elected servant of the Islanders. “I
think and battle only for development of the Islands
and common cause,” he concluded.
