MCI Opposes Proposed Foreign Varsity Bill
After the Supreme Court of India passed the proposal of conducting combined MBBS and postgraduate 
examinations despite the government putting hurdles, the Medical Council of India has again used its powers to disrupt the passing of the Foreign Educational Institutions Bill.
If the bill is passed by the apex court, it will usher in numerous foreign medical universities in the country without checking their infrastructure and credentials. By opposing the Bill, MCI bosses have proved that they have been working in the interest of the medical education in India and not otherwise as alleged by the Indian Medical Association earlier.
Independent observers feel that out of the inferiority complex, which was propounded by the recent case of radio tagging of Indian students in Tri Valley University, the MCI has set procedure for granting permission for opening of new medical colleges with provisional recognition initially and extension after every years after inspecting the infrastructure every year till final batch pass out.
Union Cabinet Minister of Human Resources Development 'Kapil Sibal' has described the bill as landmark and in national interest. The bill, apart from medical varsities will clear way for opening of foreign varsities and their campus in India. It is argued that though this may provide good opportunities for faculty in these varsities but these institutions will earn millions using their brand name.
The country's apex medical eduction regulator has written to the Human Resources Ministry arguing that its rules do not allow it to support the proposed legislation.
MCI opposition may delay the Bill, which is critical for a number of top global universities to partner with Indian institutions or set up campuses here. Several foreign institutions have been eyeing the Indian market especially as higher educating in those countries is currently facing a major financial crisis.
According to existing rules, foreign universities cannot set up campuses in India or have collaborations with Indian institutions for setting up their campuses until the proposed bill is passed. Parliament committee on human resources has already finalised its report and has sought the views of the University Grants Commission (UGC) on the issue. UGC has broadly supported the bill but the MCI opposition may not be easy to ignore as it is the designated statutory authority for recognising foreign educational institutions who are keen to enter India.
Under the bill government sources have however indicated that the MCI maybe convinced into revising its stand. A former member of MCI said that as per the rules, any institution, including foreign ones, keen on offering medical degrees in India must undergo the councils rigorous scrutiny adding that the proposed bill do not have that mechanism for this purpose.
Source: Merinews.com
Date: 17th March, 2011
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