Students at a newly inaugurated government medical college in Telangana staged protests over inadequate faculty and lack of essential medical equipment. Claiming substandard education, they demanded immediate intervention from authorities to address the deficiencies. The protests highlight concerns about the readiness of newly established institutions in the state’s expanding healthcare sector.
Due to lack of proper equipment, inadequate faculty, and no clinical postings, students feel that earning an MBBS degree from the college would be meaningless, as they would miss out on essential hands-on practical experience.
The students of Government Medical College at Kumuram Bheem Asifabad in Telangana began a protest on Thursday, 2 January, citing the lack of faculty at their college.
The first batch of students at this college was admitted in 2023.
According to the students, the National Medical Commission (NMC) mandates eight faculty members per subject.
“We don’t even have four faculty members per department; in fact, we have only one for each department. Our classes are not conducted properly,” a student said.
The students also highlighted the poor state of facilities at the college.
“We don’t have proper laboratory equipment, technicians, or even the necessary chemicals for lab work. We’ve been requesting these for the past one and a half years, but no action has been taken,” one student explained to #hydkhabar.
The students did not wish to be named in this report, since they fear reprisal by college authorities.
“The principal is consulting higher authorities, but there has been no resolution so far,” one student said, explaining that the protest was held as negotiations with the authorities had failed.
The hostel facilities are grossly inadequate one student explained: “Fifty-six students are crammed into five rooms. There are only two washrooms for all of them,” a student said.
Classes taught by postgraduate students
One student explained how dire the situation has become: “I am a second-year student from the first batch that started in 2023. During the first year, we had two assistant professors and one associate professor for three different subjects. In the second year, we don’t have assistant or associate professors. Most of our classes are being handled by postgraduate students (PGs) and senior residents (SRs).”
- In the first year, the faculty position was:
- Biochemistry: One associate professor
- Anatomy: One assistant professor
- Physiology: one assistant professor, one senior resident (SR)
In the second year, the situation is worse:
- Pathology: Only one head of the department (HOD) and one SR
- Pharmacology: No faculty and no SRs
- Microbiology: Only one SR
What is more, the tenure of many PGs currently teaching courses is set to end by January 2025. “We are seriously concerned about how we will continue our studies without proper faculty,” a student said.
Several important medical departments missing
The students pointed out that some essential departments are missing at the college. There are no students studying Obstetrics & Gynecology, Dermatology, or Ophthalmology, since these departments have not yet been established.
“We observed that other medical colleges established alongside ours in 2023 have better faculty and facilities. This stark disparity is deeply concerning and demoralising,” a student said.
Laboratory ill equipped
The first two years of medical studies involve significant laboratory work, and this college is missing in adequate laboratory facilities too.
“Regarding the labs, we don’t have the proper equipment for first- and second-year studies. In fact, we don’t have much of anything. There is space for the labs, but the equipment is either insufficient or completely absent. Chemicals required for experiments are not available. There are no lab technicians or the human resources essential for running a functional lab,” one student explained.
For practical learning, medical students require cadavers – these too are missing at this college.
“First-year students are relying on notes from what we did last year to get started,” a student noted.
“There are no regular classes. Three months of this academic year (out of 11 months) have passed; we have not a single cadaver for practical learning. As per NMC guidelines, a minimum of eight cadavers is required,” a first year student told.
Student fainted, had to be rushed for treatment elsewhere
With no proper equipment, inadequate faculty and no possibility of conducting clinical postings, which are occasions when students participate in the activities of the hospital wards and discuss cases in groups, students feel getting an MBBS degree at the college would not have much meaning – they would get no hands-on practical knowledge.
On 1 January, when a student fainted, the woeful state of affairs was brought home to many students. “She suddenly fainted, and we were unable to handle the situation ourselves. We rushed her to the Asifabad Government Hospital. The hospital lacked facilities, and we had to shift her to Mancherial in an emergency. Her condition was extremely critical, her seizures would not stop,” a student said.
“If we cannot receive proper medical care in emergencies ourselves, how are we supposed to survive?” she questioned.
No hostel within campus, commuting back and forth risky
“The hostel provided to us is an old government building a few kilometers away. The hostel is about three kilometers from the college, and we either walk or take autos to reach the campus. The area is unsafe, as there have been instances of crimes, including cases of harassment linked to auto drivers. The building is in an isolated area with no nearby houses, making it even more risky,” a woman student said.
Currently, the college has about 100 women, and there are separate hostels for junior and senior women students.
‘We manage to eat what we get’
Students said the college has arranged for a cook, but the quality of the meals provided was far from ideal. “We are managing with what is provided. The quality and consistency of the food are not quite ideal. It’s not an option for us to eat outside frequently, so we rely on what is made available at the hostel,” a student said.
‘All newly established medical colleges are lacking’
Dr Srinath, chairman of the Telangana Junior Doctors Association said that the problem is not one confined to just one college, GMC Asifabad.
“It reflects the broader issues with the infrastructure of all newly established medical colleges. We are demanding that the government urgently recruit assistant professors on a regular basis,” Dr Srinath told. #hydkhabar
About The Author
Faraaz Mohammed