Manipur Health Minister Sapam Ranjan on Wednesday announced that Manipur University is waiting for the National Medical Commission (NMC)’s advice and suggestions for conducting examinations for all medical students by keeping in view of the situation in the state.
He was responding to the protest conducted on Tuesday by Kuki-Zo medical students against the authorities for allegedly not allowing them to write their MBBS Phase-1 examinations at Churachandpur Medical College.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday at his residence located at Lamphel Sanakeithel, health minister said, “A special examination can be conducted as per advice of NMC. The state also needs their views and suggestions since all medical colleges of Manipur are under the NMC.”
He categorically stated that the government takes the welfare of all students seriously, refuting allegations that the Churachandpur MBBS students from the Kuki-Zo community have been denied from appearing in examinations.
Following the unfortunate May 3 incident, the state government has been trying and giving all efforts to ensure that all the students continue to get their academic knowledge, doing whatever it can for the welfare of the students.
“We have requested the NMC as far as Churachandpur medical students are concerned and asked for dual campuses. NMC has agreed to it,” the minister said.
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In Manipur, there are medical colleges at RIMS, JNIMS and Shija Academy of medical sciences where they also have second year and third year students. All medical colleges of our country come under the purview of NMC, he added.
“Whatever steps we take or changes we make in the curriculums, they always have to be under the guidelines of the NMC. For Manipur, the four medical colleges are under Manipur University which is a Central university. For the past many months, we have been corresponding with the NMC,” the minister said.
“We already received a letter from NMC on November 13 which stated that it would have no objection if the displaced students in the university are from parent college or from different colleges,” he said. However, the university must take decisions after due consultation with colleges and authorities, he added.
He said that the letter from NMC was sent to the dean of medical sciences of Manipur University. This also applies to dental counsels, he added.
The University also had a meeting with colleges and stakeholders. They have sought advice and suggestions from the NMC, because the three medical colleges have second year examinations in the month of December, he said.
“Attendance and internal assessment also play a big role in assessment of the particular student, that can be either relaxed or not. We need concrete advice from the NMC,” he said.
