Process to amend MUHS Act begins, committee constituted
| Date :29-Mar-2022 |
Staff Reporter
A committee has been constituted as a step towards making amendments to 24-year old Act of Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS). While talking to mediapersons at Hotel Centre Point on Monday, Vice-Chancellor Lieutenant General Dr Madhuri Kanitkar, PVSM, AVSM said, “This is being done in coordination with Medical Education Ministry, Department of Medical Education and Research (DMER) and MUHS. A committee, where three members from MUHS are incorporated, will revisit the Act to begin with.”
National Medical Commission (NMC) erstwhile Medical Council of India has amended its 20 years old curriculum of medical education. But Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) has not changed its 24 years old Act. Medical education has traveled a long distance. Several changes have taken place on global platform since then and at national level too. According to experts, it is the right time now to introduce changes in this Act.
Dr Kanitkar said, “Three persons from MUHS have been incorporated in the committee. It is a long process and will take some time as introducing amendments is a huge exercise.”
DMER and MUHS though have connection with health sciences, both work on separate lines as per their responsibilities. It has been experienced by the people of the fraternity that the system has not been evolved to streamline the working in Medical Colleges in State. For example, MUHS does the affiliation, design courses, take examination, declare results. For smooth working in GMCs adequate manpower is required as per the norms of NMC. Unfortunately, due to the procrastination at DMER the system gets affected. The teachers from different medical colleges are temporarily posted to the college where inspection from NMC is scheduled. Considering this aspect, Dr Madhuri Kanitkar has taken initiative for creating a proper system.
“MUHS is like a watchdog. DMER does the recruitment. There is no lack of coordination. I have prepared a proposal where timeline is set. We receive applications for new colleges by October 31. The procedure is fixed. The proposals of colleges should be cleared within a time frame. Government should issue the certificate of essentiality in next two-three weeks.
There is no need to inspect the college more than once. Our affiliation and essentiality certificate will go to Union Health Ministry. After the approval is received from the ministry, State Government shall issue GR. The procedure then involves Local Enquiry Committee’s visit and other steps. Those who don’t fulfill the norms will have to face the music.”
Dr Kanitkar, Dr Mhaisekar, Secretary Saurabh Vijay had meeting together and then they chalked out a plan. Proactive steps are being taken. A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is being prepared.
No admission to Ukraine-returned students
Students, who had gone to Ukraine to study medical education, will not be accommodated in medical colleges in Maharashtra. But MUHS has created online modules for the Ukraine returnees. “Government is exploring ways to do something for these students. But accommodating them in our medical colleges will be like doing injustice on the students who were admitted here after cracking National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET). The online modules developed by MUHS will surely help them to prepare themselves,” said Dr Madhuri Kanitkar, Vice-Chancellor of MUHS.
PG institutes,
automation
After taking charge as Vice Chancellor Lt Gen Dr Madhuri Kanitkar PVSM, AVSM prepared a vision document. The priority is given to three things--developing Post Graduate Institutes for subjects viz Medicine, Gynaecology, Surgery, Paediatrics, Anaesthesiology, Orthopaedics, Emergency Medicine; introducing more student-centric activities and initiating automation. Dr Kanitkar is the first Vice Chancellor who is staying in MUHS premises. She cleaned the V-C bungalow, renovated it and started staying there. It has larger impact on the administration in University that has become vibrant. A complete beautification of the MUHS premises in Nashik is on cards.
Kulguru ka Katta
“Though open to discuss any issue with students and reply through WhatsApp, however I feel personal interaction would be more fruitful. From next month, I shall be starting ‘Kulguru Ka Katta’, where there would be interaction with students on hybrid mode to resolve their issues. There are other windows where they can raise their voices. In Kulguru Ka Katta, the focus will be on resolving collective grievances,” Dr Madhuri Kanitkar made it clear.