Pall over Manipal degrees

Star: KUALA LUMPUR: The Medical Council of India (MCI), which regulates medical institutions in the country will no longer recognise degrees offered by India’s Manipal University.
MCI announced last week that it would no longer recognise Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBs) courses offered by Kasturba Medical Colleges in Manipal and Mangalore.
“There were several inadequacies in the college which would not allow students to benefit completely from the course,” Bernama quoted a senior MCI official as saying.
Manipal University Pro-Chancellor Dr H.S Ballal said although the MCI had derecognised the institution, the ultimate decision would depend on the Indian Health Ministry.
“We have written to the Health Ministry and they have sent a team to observe the university.
“We have also submitted a report and the matter is still pending, and hope to get a reply within two to three weeks,” he said.
Manipal is popular among Malaysian students. Students at the Melaka Manipal Medical College (MMMC) do three years of clinical training in Malaysia and two years of pre-clinical in India.
An official from the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) said the decision by the MCI would result in the public thinking that the quality of Manipal’s medical degree had gone down.
The MMC governs the recognition of medical courses for Malaysia.
“Students in Malaysia might be affected as they are studying in a university that has been derecognised by its own council,” the spokesman said.
“The decision means that to a certain extent, the quality must have gone down,” the spokesman said, adding that recognition of doctors as well as medical programmes and institutions come under the purview of the MMC.
The spokesman added that the MMC would write to the MCI as well as the Manipal Academy of Higher Education to ask for a further explanation on the ruling.
MMMC dean Dr John Arokiasamy said MCI's decision would not affect its twinning programme.