July 29: The fate of about 120 students, who have cleared the MBBS final year exams from the Terna Medical College remains in a state of flux, in the absence of the recognition to the college by both, the Indian Medical Council (IMC) and Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC).

The student's anxiety only increased after a recent visit by a three-member team of the MMC at the college's new premise at New Bombay. "We cannot apply for a post graduation course, unless our college gets due recognition," told a student half way into his one-year internship, to Express Newsline.About 60 per cent of the students have completed the course in the first two batches, since the college was established in 1991 at Koperkhairne, New Bombay by Terna Charitable Trust, run by Congress MLA from Osmanabad, Padamsinh Patil. According to sources, the pass percentage among the college's second batch of students was approximately 96 per cent in the first year, 60 in the second year and only about 40 per cent in the third and final year exams. Of the 100 students who appeared in the October 1996 final year MBBS exams, 38 were reported to have passed. In all, with the three sets of the six-monthly examinations (April 1996, October 1996, April 1997) which have been held, about 120 students are equipped with an unrecognised MBBS degree. ``We will only be MBBS doctors, but where shall we practice?'' the students query, betraying their fear. ``If the college receives recognition by the MMC, then we can practice within the State, and after IMC's recognition anywhere in the country,'' says a student from the second batch who had been admitted under the government's open category quota.

Students who scored as much as 93 per cent in their HSC examinations and narrowly missed securing a seat in the BMC or the State run medical colleges in the city, are now confronted with a piquant situation. The college used to admit 100 students to the first year MBBS course which included merit and pay seats. However, having failed to meet the required standards, the IMC, had recommended that fresh admissions be stopped. Students however inform that it was Terna Medical College which had topped the first year MBBS results in January and July 1992. They further point out that they had undertaken the same university examination for the final year as students from other medical colleges under the University of Mumbai.``Moreover, our practical examinations were held at LTMG hospital at Sion,'' says a student who scored a first class in the October 1996 examination, ``unlike the MGM students who appeared for the exam in their own college.'' Incidentally, the pass percentage at MGM in the October 1996 examination was only nine per cent.

``Why should we be made to suffer?'' is the students' refrain. Meanwhile, the MMC team which had paid a two-day visit to the college on July 26-27, will be submitting their report to the Council on August 9.The fate of the students might emerge clearer then.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.