Govt to review approval of 11 pvt medical colleges: Nasim

The health ministry will review the primary approval of 11 private medical colleges which obtained permission despite flouting most of the conditions mentioned in the private medical college establishment policy 2011.  

"We will review the primary approval of 11 private medical colleges given at the last hour of the past government," said Health Minister Mohammad Nasim. The minister called the review process as one of the major decisions taken by his ministry and referred to some lapses in the approval process of those medical colleges.

Mohammad Nasim was speaking during a courtesy call by the representatives of Bangladesh Health Reporter's Forum (BHRF) at his secretariat office Tuesday. BHRF president Toufiq Maruf and general secretary Badruddoza Sumon were present among others.

Earlier, Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) issued a letter demanding cancellation of the disqualified medical colleges which belong to powerful quarters like ruling party politicians, bureaucrats and leaders of the association of the physicians affiliated with the ruling party. The government has recently formed a review committee in this regard.

Mr Nasim reiterated the government's position in delivering government healthcare services to the grassroot level poor people, terming it one of the major challenges he will face. The other challenge will be to keep the doctors at thana, upazila healthcare centres and community clinics, he mentioned.

He said he had sought cooperation from Bangladesh Medical Association and Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad regarding withdrawal of any doctor posted outside Dhaka on political recommendation.

 "Any type of political recommendation for the withdrawal of any doctor posted outside Dhaka will be prevented at any cost," said the minister.

The Minister said the deadline of admission test in private medical college has been extended till end of January due to various political programs last year which hampered the admission process. He also said the qualifying score for admission in medical college will not be lower than 120 marks and indicated to start a coordinated drive against fake drug manufacturers.