CAG raps Maha over poor plight of medical education

Updated on: Saturday, April 23, 2011

The Comptroller of Auditor General (CAG) has rapped Maharashtra government for not having a particular policy or programme for improvement of medical education in the state.

"There is no specific policy or programme for improvement of medical education in the state, particularly in tribal areas. Number of medical seats were not increased despite increase in population and a demand for aspiring students," the CAG report, released recently said.

It has also pointed out inadequate research activities, non-compliance with norms laid by Medical Council of India (MCI) regarding teaching staff, infrastructure and diagnostic equipments.

The report has found that majority of the government hospitals out of 14, were lacking super speciality treatments.

"Sasoon hospital in Pune and a hospital in Nagpur were not having facility for kidney transplantation. Akola hospital had none of the super speciality facilities while Ambejogai, Aurangabad and Miraj were lacking open heart and plastic surgery and kidney transplant," it said.

It observed that machines and equipments were lying idle for want of repairs in several facilities. Following this, the CAG has suggested regular maintenance for efficient functioning of hospitals and also to help poor patients.

Citing examples from four hospitals, the report said a sonography machine in Ambejogai hospital purchased at Rs 6.75 lakh went out of order. A CT scan machine at Miraj hospital was out of service.

A bond is taken from every student completing MBBS from government run colleges to render service to the government for one year failing which they should pay Rs five lakh. For PG students, the service is of two years failing which they should pay Rs 15 lakh.

However, the report said "ninety per cent students passed out of medical colleges did not render service to government."

Lack of coordination between the Medical Education and Drugs Department as well as the Health Department resulted in ineffectiveness and poor implementation of the scheme causing loss to the health programme of the government, it said.

The CAG has recommended the government to increase intake capacity of medical seats and chalk out a programme for improvement of medical education including sufficient teaching faculty to improve the quality of medical education.

CAG raps Maha over poor plight of medical education

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