Sources said that the MCI has shot a letter to the State government asking it to stop admitting the students for the three year degree course pointing out that the Paediatrics department was facing a chronic staff shortage and admitting the students was against the medical norms.

Sources said that the MCI has told the government that some of the faculty members in the Paediatrics department were not qualified to teach the students. “MCI has told the government that three faculty members in the department who have got their degrees from the Government Medical College, Srinagar were not qualified for the job as the degree which they have got has not been recognized by the MCI, sources said.

Sources add that the Paediatrics department of the GMCH, which was functioning in its associated hospital, Shri Maharahja Gulab Singh hospital (SMGSH), was facing both a staff and infrastructural shortage. “Given the strength of students the department should have at least six units of officials. But there are only 2 units functioning for the 200-bed Paediatrics hospital. There is at least a requirement of 16 more faculty members, but as of now only 8 faculty members are functioning at the GMCH, sources add.

Sources said that as of now for the MD course, a total of 9 students were being taught in the GMCH.

However sources said that even as the MCI has asked the government to stop admission, it was continuing to provide the education in the MD course to the students. Officials said that the State government has pointed to the MCI that since it was not admissible for the state to carry out the recruitments of the doctors who are no state subjects and it will begin to employ more faculty for the Paediatrics department.

“At present there is staff strength of 1 Professor, 1 Associate Professor, 3 Assistant Professors and 3 lecturers in the Paediatrics department. And not all the faculty staff is a permanent staff. Out of the eight faculty members, four have been engaged on contractual basis, sources said.