Bad days are ahead for the Medical College of Homeopathy and Research in Sambalpur. Even as the State is facing acute shortage of doctors, the Central Council of Homeopathy (CCH) has directed Odisha Government not to allow students to take admission into the Bachelor of Homeopathy Medicine and Surgery (BHMS) course of the college.
The college apparently failed to comply with the basic infrastructure and other criteria including faculty strength as per the guidelines of CCH. As per norms, each homeopathy college should have at least 43 teachers.
However, the guidelines were revised later by the Council which made a mandatory provision for appointment of 24 full-time teachers of which, 12 should be in the rank of either Reader or Professor.
But, the Medical College, established in 1978, neither has a Professor nor Reader. There are six regular lecturers besides as many contractual lecturers. The post of Principal has been lying vacant and is currently being held by a senior lecturer.
Apart from the staff strength, the Council in 2011 had asked the State Government to ensure basic infrastructure in the four homeopathy colleges including the one in Sambalpur in two years. As there was not much development in the last three years, the CCH directed the Government to stop admission to the college this year.
Though a new building was constructed for the college, it is located 10 KM from the hospital. Moreover, while the medical has ultrasound facility, it does not have a radiologist. As a result, the students are deprived of practical classes.
With the CCH decision not going down well with the locals, they have demanded the State Government to form a task force that would redress the problems faced by the college.
Principal of the college, Radharani Mishra, said while there is no problem in the basic infrastructure, there is a shortage of faculty. “Though we have apprised the State Government of the problems many a times in the past, no step has been taken yet,” she added.
