In a significant move addressing long-standing concerns about medical education standards, Delhi University has constituted a 14-member inspection committee to comprehensively reassess 12 affiliated and constituent medical institutions. The panel will evaluate critical aspects including infrastructure, faculty strength, and academic standards across undergraduate, postgraduate, and super-speciality programmes.
Comprehensive Infrastructure Evaluation
The newly formed committee will conduct thorough inspections of multiple facilities including laboratories, operation theatres, classrooms, equipment, libraries, and lecture theatres. The primary objective is to assess compliance with National Medical Commission (NMC) norms amid growing concerns about infrastructure deficiencies across several campuses.
This initiative follows earlier directives from the university requiring all affiliated colleges to conduct mandatory safety audits after reports of accidents linked to deteriorating buildings. The inspection drive comes at a crucial time when medical institutions are facing increased pressure to maintain standards while accommodating rising student intake.
Faculty and Infrastructure Challenges Surface
At Lady Hardinge Medical College, faculty members have highlighted critical shortages. The institute is grappling with severe faculty shortages and limited residential accommodation for both MBBS and MD students. Additionally, the current bed strength remains inadequate for handling the daily patient load, creating operational challenges.
Similar issues have been reported at Maulana Azad Medical College and its attached Lok Nayak Hospital, where students have identified multiple concerns including faulty equipment, broken fittings such as toilets, and significant delays in repairs. These infrastructure problems have directly affected teaching schedules and patient-care rotations, compromising both education and healthcare delivery.
Administrative Hurdles and Institutional Development
The University College of Medical Sciences (UCMS) faces unique challenges due to an ongoing jurisdictional dispute between Delhi University and the Delhi government regarding funding and administrative control. Faculty members indicate that this prolonged dual administration has delayed crucial upgrades, including hostel expansion and acquisition of major diagnostic equipment like MRI machines.
"When basic decisions get stuck between two authorities, development gets pushed back for years," noted a faculty member, highlighting how administrative complexities have hampered institutional progress and modernization efforts.
While Delhi University has not directly linked the inspection drive to these specific complaints, several senior faculty members have welcomed the review, describing it as overdue. They believe the assessment could help align resources with both increasing student numbers and evolving regulatory requirements.
The academic council of Delhi University, scheduled to meet on December 5, will formally note the committee's formation. The findings from this comprehensive inspection are expected to guide future decisions on compliance measures and institutional improvements, potentially shaping the trajectory of medical education across these twelve institutions.
