National Medical Commission Revokes MBBS Course Approval for Vaishno Devi Medical College

Revocation of MBBS Course Approval

The National Medical Commission has withdrawn the permission for the MBBS program at Vaishno Devi Medical College, located in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, for the academic year 2025-26. This decision was made following an unannounced inspection and numerous complaints regarding the college's operations.

Impact on Admissions

As a result of this ruling, new admissions to the college have been halted, and students who were already enrolled will be transferred to other accredited medical institutions.

Inspection Findings

Reports indicate that the inspection team from the National Medical Commission identified significant deficiencies in both infrastructure and educational resources at the college. The faculty was found to be severely lacking, with essential positions such as tutor demonstrators and senior residents not adequately filled. Additionally, the hospital services did not meet the required standards, with the outpatient department seeing far fewer patients than expected, and several critical departments were either incomplete or minimally staffed.

Concerns Over Facilities

During the inspection, it was also revealed that the ICU facilities at the college were not fully operational. The laboratories were in poor condition, and there was a notable lack of essential academic materials in the library. The commission deemed these shortcomings serious, stating that training medical students in such an environment not only violates regulations but also jeopardizes future healthcare.

Background of Controversy

This action comes in the wake of a recent controversy regarding the religious composition of the first batch of students, which sparked protests from various organizations due to the majority of Muslim students among the fifty enrolled. The college administration has consistently maintained that all admissions were based solely on merit through the NEET examination, with no discrimination involved.

Clarification from the Commission

The National Medical Commission clarified that its decision was not influenced by political pressure or communal issues. According to the commission, the decision was entirely based on academic standards and the findings of the inspection report. They assured that the future of the students would be safeguarded, and arrangements would be made for their transfer to other medical colleges to prevent any disruption in their education.

A Necessary Message

The commission's decision serves as a stern yet necessary message that medical education should not be treated as an experiment with inadequate facilities for training future doctors. It is crucial that the debate surrounding this issue does not take on a religious tone. The focus should not be on the number of students from any particular community but rather on whether the college meets the standards for medical education.

Political Reactions

Just a day prior, there were significant protests against the admission of Muslim students at this medical college, with demonstrators voicing their discontent towards the central government and the Lieutenant Governor. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also described the situation as unfortunate, suggesting that it would be best to transfer all students to other medical colleges. He expressed concern about sending his own child to an institution that he deemed unfit for medical education.