National panel yet to conduct inspection for new medical college in city to start

Mumbai: Uncertainty surrounds the state’s plans to start its new medical college in the city this year, as the National Medical Commission (NMC) has yet to conduct its inspection. Although the state applied for permission last November and addressed all queries by this April, the NMC has not performed the necessary online or offline inspection, which is a prerequisite for approval to commence the college.
State officials said they remain hopeful that the inspection will occur this month. “With the academic year beginning in July, timely approval could still allow the college to start operations this year though it may be close,” said an official. “We are hopeful the NMC will expedite things now that the Lok Sabha elections are over too,” the official said.
The provisions for starting a new medical college were met by consolidating the bed capacities of GT Hospital at Dhobi Talao and Cama & Albless Hospital at Fort, totalling 1,026 beds. Additionally, the signboard of GT Hospital has been recently changed to reflect its new status as a medical college.
In Mumbai, JJ Hospital was the only state-run medical college, which also managed GT, Cama, and St George hospitals. Other medical colleges, such as KEM, Sion, and Nair, are run by the BMC.
The plan to establish a second state-run medical college after JJ Hospital has been in the making since 2011 but remained in cold storage for more than a decade. It was only revived last year. Following the state decision, the medical education department moved a proposal to the NMC last November to start with 100 MBBS seats. The college will initially offer MBBS degrees, with plans to eventually introduce postgraduate and specialized programmes. The state has decided to tentatively call the institute Government Medical College, Mumbai.
Dr Jeetendra Sankpal, dean of the proposed college, said the NMC requested some documents to be submitted in April and then a second set by the end of April. “We have completed all the paperwork and are now waiting for the inspection. It could happen any time,” he said. He added that the authorities have conducted interviews to recruit faculty. However, due to the code of conduct, they haven't been able to issue appointment letters.
As per plans, the college will initially operate from Cama & Albless for the first two years as the institute has more lecture rooms. The state plans to build a college building over the next few years.