Archive for month: November, 2024

Chennai: The Madras High Court bench has slapped a Rs 20 lakh fine on the Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for violation of the erstwhile Medical Council of India’s guidelines now National Medical Commission (NMC) while admitting 26 MBBS students during the academic year 2017-2018.

Apart from imposing a fine on the institute, the HC bench comprising Justice M. Dhandapani has also issued directions to the institute to surrender 13 seats during the academic year 2025-2026 and 13 seats during the academic year 2026-2027.

The court has directed the institute to pay Rs 10 lakh to The Spastics Society of TN (SPASTN), CSIR Road, Taramani, Chennai and Rs 10 lakh to Mahesh Memorial Trust C/o. Cancer Institute, Adayar, Chennai, within two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of the order.

These orders were issued by the Court while considering a plea filed by the Institute against the order of the erstwhile Medical Council of India (MCI) and the consequential orders issued by the Government of Puducherry and Pondicherry University.

Also Read: PIMS Reduces Annual Fees for Non-Clinical PG Medical Courses Under Management Quota, know all details

The college was directed to discharge 26 students admitted to the MBBS course for the academic year 2017-2018 on the grounds that admissions made by the college were not in terms of the MCI guidelines.

Filing the plea before the HC bench, the petitioner’s counsel submitted that the court in its order dated 28.02.2018 granted an order of status quo and further submitted that some of the students were pursuing higher studies and some were working. It was further submitted that since all the students completed their MBBS course, if they are discharged at a later point of time, the knowledge acquired by them may go to waste and would no be of any use for the society.

Meanwhile, the counsel for the erstwhile MCI, now the National Medical Commission (NMC), submitted that the authorities have sent instructions stating that the Commission has decided to exempt the petitioner students from any sort of punishment. However, there shall be an action initiated against the petitioner in accordance with the relevant NMC regulations, and the Commission has decided to impose regulation as prescribed under Maintenance of Standards of Medical Education Regulations, 2023 (MSMER-2023) at Sub-clause (f) of Clause 8 of Chapter III ‘penalties’ where the college would be barred from admitting students against 26 seats for the subsequent two years.

In response to this, the counsel for the medical college submitted that the institute was ready to surrender 13 seats each for two subsequent years, from the management quota to Government quota and therefore, instead of barring the petitioner from taking admission, the petitioner may be permitted to surrender 13 seats each for two subsequent years.

Responding to this, the counsel for NMC submitted that apart from allowing the petitioner to surrender 26 seats to Government quota, the Court may impose some punishment of compensation payable to any orphanage.

After considering the arguments by both sides, the HC bench observed that the college filed the plea against the order directing the institute to discharge 26 students admitted in the MBBS course for the academic year 2017-2018 on the ground that admission made by the petitioner was not in terms of the MCI guidelines. 

Further, the Court observed that it was equally un-disputed fact that during the pendency of the plea, all the 26 students successfully completed their MBBS course and some of the students were pursuing higher studies and some of the students were working.

The Court also perused the instructions given by the medical college and noted, “Perusal of the instructions reveal that NMC has decided to exempt the petitioner’s students, however, decided to impose penalty on the petitioner by barring the petitioner from taking admission against 26 seats for subsequent two years. However, the petitioner is ready to surrender 13 seats each for two years [totally 26 seats] for the academic years 2025-26 and 2026-27.”

Taking note of this, the Court issued the following directions:

(i)The second respondent is directed to not to take any action against the petitioner students.

(ii)If the 26 students have not been given Course completion certificates, the second respondent is directed to register their Course completion and give Course completion certificates to all the 26 students.

(iii)The petitioner is directed to surrender 13 seats during the academic year 2025-26 and 13 seats during the academic year 2026- 27 [totally 26 seats].

(iv)The petitioner is directed to pay a sum of Rs.10,00,000/- (Rupees Ten Lakhs Only) to The Spastics Society of TN (SPASTN), CSIR Road, Taramani, Chennai – 600 113 and a sum of Rs.10,00,000/- (Rupees Ten Lakhs Only) to Mahesh Memorial Trust C/o.Cancer Institute, Adayar, Chennai, within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

“With the above directions, the writ petition stands disposed of. No costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions are closed,” noted the court.

To view the HC order, click on the link below:

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/pondicherryinstituteofmedicalsciencesvsunionofindia-260913.pdf

Also Read: Pay Rs 15 lakh compensation to doctor who was denied MS General Surgery admission at PIMS: Madras HC directs PIMS, CENTAC

Tamil Nadu- Tamil Nadu (TN Health) has released a online mop-up counselling schedule for Paramedical Degree Courses for re-allotment/allotment for Government seats in Government Colleges allotment for Government Quota seats in Self-Financing Colleges for the academic year 2024-25.

New Delhi: Candidates getting admitted to postgraduate medical courses at Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune will have to serve as Medical Officers in the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) for five years after completing their course. 

At the time of admission, candidates will have to execute a bond agreement in this regard specifying their liability to serve the AFMS for 5 years on successful completion of MD/MS/DNB course. In case, the candidates are found to be unwilling when offered commission after completion of their course, they would have to pay Rs 57,50,000 penalty. These terms and conditions are applied for the candidates joining the PG medical courses for the session 2024-2027.

Information in this regard was shared by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) in the recently released Information Bulletin and Counselling Scheme for NEET PG (MD/MS/DNB) Counselling 2024.

Specifying the bond service conditions for candidates getting admitted to AFMC, MCC further mentioned that any candidate who fails to complete the course successfully before crossing 35 years of age, due to any circumstances, will not be eligible for commission in the Armed Forces and rendered Non-Service Liability (NSL). Such candidates will also be liable to pay the bond money to the Government of India as applicable.

“The candidate shall be liable to serve the Armed Forces Medical Service (AFMS) for 05 years on successful completion of MD/MS/DNB Course subject to fulfilling other eligibility criteria. Candidate will have to execute a bond agreement at the time of admission, to pay a sum of Rs. 57,50,000/- (Rupees Fifty Seven Lakhs and Fifty Thousand only) for the session 2024-27 to Govt of India, in case unwilling to join AFMS when offered commission on completion of the course. A candidate who fails to complete the course successfully before crossing 35 years of age, due to any circumstances, WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE for commission in the Armed Forces and rendered Non Service Liability (NSL). Such candidates will be liable to pay the bond money to the Govt of India as applicable,” stated the information bulletin for PG medical admissions shared by MCC.

Also Read: AFMS Issues Notices for Sponsored Medical Officers, Priority III, IV, V Candidates seeking PG medical admissions 2024

Priority-V Candidates: 

Priority-V students are civilian candidates who are willing to serve in the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) subject to their fulfilling the eligibility criteria mentioned in the ‘Information Bulletin for PG Courses in AFMS Institutions through NEET PG-2024 and NEET MDS 2024″ as uploaded on the AFMS website. The bond conditions are applicable for these candidates only.

The terms and conditions for such civilian candidates getting admitted to PG medical courses are as follows:

√ It may be noted that offering of MD/MS/DNB seats to civilian candidates as Priority – V is with the sole objective to meet the specialist requirement of the Armed Forces Medical Services.

√ Civilian candidates at the time of admission will have to submit a bond agreement to pay an amount as sanctioned by the Govt. of India in case they are unwilling to join AFMS when offered commission.

√ They also have to be medically fit as per the standards required for commission in the AFMS at the time of admission. Officers of the AFMS who have resigned their commission/ dismissed/ removed from service/ not completed their initial contractual service as SSC officers are not eligible to be considered even as Priority-V candidates, though they may fulfill the age criteria. Due to the service liability the chief eligibility criteria for Priority-V candidates is their age & medical fitness.

√ Medical standards/ other eligibility criteria regarding entry into the Armed Forces as a commissioned officer 

√ Seat allotment during MCC counselling is purely provisional and final admission will be subject to the candidate successfully fulfilling the age criteria and medical fitness examination. Maximum permissible age for Priority-V candidates shall be less than 30 years as on 31 Dec 2024 (i.e. date of birth being on or after 01 Jan 1995) to fulfill the service liability.

√ The candidate shall be liable to serve the Armed Forces Medical Service (AFMS) for 05 years on successful completion of MD/MS/DNB Course subject to fulfilling other eligibility criteria. Candidate will have to execute a bond agreement at the time of admission, to pay a sum of Rs. 57,50,000/- (Rupees Fifty Seven Lakhs and Fifty Thousand only) for the session 2024-27 to Govt of India, in case unwilling to join AFMS when offered commission on completion of the course. A candidate who fails to complete the course successfully before crossing 35 years of age, due to any circumstances, WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE for commission in the Armed Forces and rendered Non Service Liability (NSL). Such candidates will be liable to pay the bond money to the Govt of India as applicable.

Service Liability Bond Agreement for Priority-V Student Seeking Admission to Post Graduate (PG) Course:

As per the surety bond agreement executed by such civilian candidates at the time of PG medical admission, they shall be commissioner as a Medical Officer in the regular Indian Army or the Indian Navy or Indian Air Force as SSC Officer to serve for 05 years unless he/she, the PG student is prevented from doing so on account of ill health or some other reason over which he/she (the PG student) has no control as determined by a service medical board (as to which the Government shall be the sole judge) or by being removed on the ground that the student is considered by the appropriate authority to be unfit to continue as PG student, or on any other ground, to be granted a commission.

“That in the event the PG student either attains the age of 35 years as on 31 December of the year of successful completion of his/her PG course or refuses to accept commission in the Armed Forces Medical Services on successful completion of his/her PG course the PG student and the Surety shall jointly be liable to pay and refund forthwith to the Government of India on demand and without demur an amount of Rs 57.5 Lakhs (Rupees Fifty Seven Lakhs and Fifty Thousand only) as per Govt of India letter No 17436/DGAFMS/DG-1D dated 15 Mar 2021 and No. 3569/DGAFMS/DG-1B(i)/389/21/D (Med) dt 19 Apr 2021 together with interest on the said money, calculated at the rates in force then. The interest will be calculated after 30 days from date of successful completion of PG course or from the designated date of joining the Armed Forces unit as per the posting order issued whichever is later,” states the bond conditions.

It further mentions that after successful completion of his/her PG degree course will report within such period, as may be allowed by the Director General Armed Forces Medical Services as joining time to the unit or station as specified in this behalf by the Director General Armed Forces Medical Services for grant of Short Service Commission on terms and conditions set out in Army Instruction 75/78 and as amended from time-to-time.

Further, the bond document mentions that if the PG student, after grant of short service commission, applies for release from service within Five years of grant said commission for any reason whatsoever and provided his/ her release is sanctioned by the Govt of India, as per rules in force, he/ she shall be relieved only after he/ she has refunded Bond money at the rate of Rs. 11.5 Lakhs (Rupees Eleven Lakhs and fifty Thousand only) per completed year or part thereof of unfulfilled liability limited to the Bond money as contained in the Bond agreement executed at the time of admission.

It also states that if the PG student leaves the institution without completing the course due to any reason after the last date of admission to the PG course as specified by NMC/affiliated University, he/ she will be required to pay a sum of Rs. 19,16,667/- (Rupees Nineteen Lakhs Sixteen Thousand Six Hundred and Sixty Seven only) per year or part thereof of the education at the institution based on extant rules subject to the conditions laid down in the subsequent paras.

Apart from these, other rules applicable to such candidates are as follows:

√That the PG student made Non service Liability (NSL) on medical grounds will be required to pay Bond money at 50% of amount laid down, for further period of study from the date declared NSL, before he/ she is allowed to continue his/her studies. He/ She will be liable to pay the remaining 50% of the Bond money on completion of the course. However, in case of student becoming medically unfit for commission due to any disease or disability contracted in the circumstances over which he/ she has no control (on which the decision of the DGAFMS shall be final) and for which he/ she has not refused treatment, he/ she will not be required to pay any Bond money but will have to pay the cost of training as applicable for further period of study from the date declared NSL.

√That if the PG (MD/MS/DNB) student leaves the training institute voluntarily without completing the course due to any reason (other than medical grounds) after the permissible withdrawal period as governed by the prospectus, if any, will be liable to pay the amount of the Bond Money at a rate proportionate to the amount of time they have trained in the institute, limited to the total Bond money as contained in the Bond executed at the time of admission.

√ That if the PG (MD/MS/DNB) student rendered as Non Service Liability (NSL) due to reasons other than medical grounds (viz. indiscipline, failure to adhere to the stipulated code of conduct, violation of medical ethics etc.) will be removed from the College Rolls and will be liable to pay the Bond Money as applicable to student and will not be allowed to continue further studies.

√ That if the PG (MD/MS/DNB) student found to be medically unfit in the precommission medical exam due to pregnancy, will be reviewed by a medical board within six months of delivery and if found fit, will be offered SSC. The candidate will report to her parent teaching institution for such medical examination within six months of delivery. If the candidate fails to report to her parent teaching institution for the medical examination within the stipulated time or fails to join on being declared fit and offered SSC, she will be liable to pay the full Bond Money. If after review, she is found medically unfit for commission, she will be treated as NSL case and would be liable to pay Bond Money as contained in the Bond executed at the time of admission.

√ That if the PG (MD/MS/DNB) Student who on completion of the course wants to be released from service liability before completion of the Liability period, provided the same is accepted by the Government, will be liable to pay the amount of the Bond Money at a rate proportionate to each complete year or part thereof of unfulfilled liability, limited to the total Bond Money as contained in the Bond or the total amount as contained in the undertaking executed at the time of admission.

√ That if the PG (MD/MS/DNB) student leaves the institution and refuses to fulfill any of the Bond conditions, his/her original documents will not be handed over until he/she pays the surety Bond money as applicable and any other dues decided by the Commandant of the AFMS PG (MD/MS/DNB) institution.

To view the bond document, click on the link below:

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/mcc-afms-bond-penalty-259767.pdf

Also Read: 7 years of Commission Service, Rs 67 lakh bond penalty: AFMS Bond policy for MBBS candidates 2024

Bengaluru: In a surprise visit to the district hospital attached to Ballari Medical College and Research Centre (BMCRC) in Ballari on Friday, Nara Bharath Reddy, MLA has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the management and functioning of the hospital. The MLA also  recommended the suspension of several officials for dereliction of duty.

During his visit, Mr. Reddy interacted with patients and lactating mothers at the hospital, where he observed lapses in hospital management. He expressed discontent with the hospital’s management and the “carelessness” of the staff in handling vital departments, and he instantly directed BMCRC director T. Gangadhar Gouda to suspend errant officials responsible for gross negligence and initiate an inquiry.

Also Read: Bihar Deputy CM pays surprise visit to Sadar Hospital, pulls up officials

Upset with the hospital’s functioning, the MLA alleged that patients were being instructed to purchase medicines from private pharmaceutical shops, despite the fact that the same medications were available free of charge within the hospital.

Mr. Reddy mentioned that patients had been asked to go to a private laboratory for minor blood tests, even though the hospital had a testing facility. He added that these issues would be investigated. To address the problem, Mr. Reddy directed Mr. Gouda to suspend Kotresh, the hospital’s chief pharmacist.

Also Read: Absent from duty: Three nursing staff face suspension at SMS Hospital

Additionally, he interacted with the relatives of pregnant women suffering from dengue fever and assured them that their grievances would be addressed promptly. He also reviewed the inventory and stock of medications.