Thanks to the joint effort of the State Government and the Union Minister for Health and Family Planning, Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad, medical services in the state are set for a big leap forward. In his capacity as the former Chief Minister of the State, Azad had already given special attention to improvement of health services in the state with emphasis to cater to the needs of rural areas. The Union Ministry for Health and Family Welfare had recently brought Indira Gandhi Government Dental College (IGGDC), Jammu under ‘recognized category.’ Following the Government notification, the degrees issued by the University of Jammu to the students of Indira Gandhi Government Dental College, Jammu would carry the degree Bachelor of Dental Surgery i.e. BDS, University of Jammu, the notification issued by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said.
But the need of the State does not end with whatever has been achieved so far. Three years back, the Government had approach the Medical Council of India to increase the number of MBBS seats in two Government Medical Colleges of the State, Jammu and Srinagar. However the team of experts appointed by the MCI, which inspected both the Medical College found infrastructural and other shortages in both of the college and refused to recommend them for increased enrolment. It has to be remembered that with the passage of time, the Stat Government is under pressure to increase the number of doctors so that medical facility is brought to larger number of people. At present there is a big gap between the number of people and the number of doctors available to them under international standards.
The State Medical Education Department took the challenge seriously, and for last three years worked hard in all areas to upgrade infrastructure in both Government Medical Colleges. It has to be noted that MCI has set forth a definite standard of infrastructure for a medical college desirous of increasing the number of candidates for MBBS. There is no relenting of conditions laid down. State Medical Education Department took due cognizance of these conditions and worked hard last three years to provide such infrastructure to both the colleges as would make them eligible to increase the number of fresh entrants in the profession. It is a matter of relief to all concerned that the team of MCI after visiting the two colleges has found their infrastructure and other requirements fulfilling the criterion set forth by the Council for increasing the number of seats. In all probability, the MCI will give formal acceptance to the request of the State Government of increasing the number of MBBS seats by 50 per cent. At present the two colleges are allowed 100 seats each which makes 200 seats in all each year. But After the MCI’s formal approval, each Government Medical College will have 150 seats which mean a total of 300 seats in both the colleges. This would be significant achievement though we know that still much remains to be done to bring medical and health care to the entire population of the State.
Addition of one hundred seats in two medial colleges means that more students will find a chance of entering medial profession in the State each year. We have not to rest content with that because there is still a big gap between demand and supply. We are confident that in due course of time, this gap will be filled. But here we would draw everybody’s attention to a few important matters. We know that the trend with medical professional persons in the country and the State is to avoid posting in rural areas. Doctors use all possible influence to stay in urban areas for various reasons. This deprives the rural population of much needed medical services. It is unfair and unjust to deprive them of the facility. They are as good a tax payer as anybody else. They cannot be discriminated against by one or the other pretext. Therefore the Health Department needs to devise a mechanism by virtue of which all new entrants to medical profession render at least three years of initial services in rural areas. This should be a statutory rule which no powerful person or political leader or bureaucrat is allowed to violate. Secondly, medical faculties have to demonstrate that they are as much concerned about the welfare and health of the people as anybody else. This means that they have to be compassionate, professionally competent and morally conscious. Dignity of the noble profession has to be maintained.
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