MCI Declares PMCH Radiotherapy Degree Useless

Patna: July 5, 2008

The Medical Council of India (MCI), in a notification issued to the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) on Saturday, refused to recognize its Radiotherapy degree while also directing the college to stop admission in the 2008-09 sessions until further instructions.

In a letter written to the college principal, the MCI said the decision to not recognize the Radiotherapy degree from the PMCH was taken after a team of MCI experts visited the college and reviewed its existing facilities last January.

The MCI committee, during its visit to the PMCH, found that the post of the Assistant Professor in the Radiotherapy department was vacant, no senior residents were attached with the department, and the unit was not sufficiently equipped with tools required for radiotherapy.

The committee, in its findings, also noticed the absence of the radiation safety officer in the Radiation room, reports said.

PMCH Post Graduate admission in-charge Dr. Rajiv Ranjan Prasad, however, downplayed the MCI findings saying the admissions for the 2008 session was already complete and therefore the Council's recommendations could not be put in place effective this year. "These shortcomings and limitations would be removed before the 2009 session so it would not affect the 2008 batch students," Prasad said.