Race for Medical College Accreditation Puts Credibility of Medical Science at Stake: Gehlot
The Sunday Mail
Jaipur: Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has raised serious questions regarding the race to secure accreditation for medical colleges—both in the state and across the country—despite a lack of basic infrastructure and faculty. Expressing concern, he stated that granting accreditation without adequate resources has jeopardized the credibility of medical science and medical education in India.
On Friday, Mr. Gehlot remarked that while there is a blind rush to obtain accreditation for medical colleges in the state, fundamental and critical issues are being completely overlooked.
**Concern Over Declining Quality in Private and Government Institutions**
Speaking on the state of private institutions, the former Chief Minister said: “Private institutions are securing accreditation one after another; yet, in some places where medical colleges have opened, there are no proper hospitals. Even where hospitals exist, there are insufficient patients for students to gain necessary practical experience. Furthermore, these colleges lack qualified faculty to teach.”
Describing the situation in government medical colleges as unfortunate, he added: “Even government medical colleges in the state face a severe shortage of faculty. During National Medical Commission (NMC) inspections, accreditation is often secured through mere tokenism—by bringing in faculty from elsewhere—but this leads to a continuous decline in the quality of education. In a sensitive profession like medicine, quality matters more than quantity, as a patient’s life hinges on every degree awarded.”
**Tough Questions on Corruption and Policy Silence**
Mr. Gehlot highlighted that this problem is not limited to Rajasthan but is prevalent across the country. Citing recent incidents, he noted that the true picture emerged when the CBI arrested officials from the Union Health Ministry and the NMC on charges of bribery related to the approval of private medical colleges.
Questioning the future of medical education in the country, he remarked that in a vast nation like India—where skilled doctors are in greatest demand—doubts regarding the competence of future doctors are a matter of grave concern. *Demand for Accountability*
Demanding accountability from the Central Government, the NMC, and state governments, Mr. Gehlot stated:
* The Central and state governments must clarify whether the faculty and basic infrastructure in medical colleges exist merely on paper or are actually present on the ground.
* If such conditions persist in a critical sector like medicine, what will become of India’s reputation in medical science on the global stage?
He remarked that despite such a massive crisis, neither the Central Government nor the state governments appear serious; this silence within the system poses the greatest danger to the country’s healthcare infrastructure.
