Nitish writes to Union Health minister against MCI decision

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today sought the personal intervention of Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad in rollback of Medical Council of India's (MCI) decision not to allow admission of MBBS students in IGIMS and approve the establishment of a government medical college at Bettiah.
Kumar sent a letter to Azad seeking his personal intervention to reconsider the MCI decisions.
The chief minister expressed surprise over MCI's decision refusing to approve renewal of permission for admission of third batch of 100 MBBS students in IGIMS (Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Science), Sheikhpura and disapproving the establishment of Government Medical College in Bettiah for MBBS students.

"In several similarly placed cases, the undertaking given by concerned Chief Secretary/Health Secretary (to rectify deficiencies pointed by inspecting MCI team) and even ESI Corporation have been duly considered and approvals granted by MCI in its June 18 meeting," he told the Union Health Minister in the letter.
Kumar also told Azad that Bihar needs 20 medical colleges for its population of over 10 crore, which comes to one medical college for a population of 50 lakh people which is the national norm.
"Against this requirement, we have 7 medical colleges, including IGIMS, approved so far by MCI. Given the situation, it should be expedient for MCI and the central government to consider our proposals to open more medical colleges and increase of intake of students more favourably so as to enable us to come nearer to national norm," he said.