The Times of India           23.12.2013

Civic body to start PG institute for medical students

NASHIK: The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has decided to start a post-graduate (PG) institute for medical students in association with the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) from next year.

A proposal in this regard will be presented at the next general body meeting of the civic body. Discussions about starting post-graduate classes were going on for the last two years between the NMC and MUHS, but expenditure was the bone of contention. While the NMC wanted the expenses to be divided equally, MUHS had said they would be providing only academic support.

Now, it has been decided that the NMC will bear the entire cost of the project.

Speaking to TOI, an NMC official said, "We have decided to commence post-graduate institute for medical students in the city in association with MUHS on the lines of Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). The project is estimated to cost Rs 10 crore and the NMC will bear the entire expenditure. We are expanding Bytco hospital, where the courses will be conducted."

"We will have eight post-graduate courses for medical students - surgery, medicine, gynaecology, orthopaedics, paediatrics, ophthalmology, anaesthesia and ENT. The total capacity of the institute will be 24 seats for the three-year courses. Each course will have three students. The proposal in this regard is to be tabled at the next general body meeting of the NMC for approval," the official said.

The proposal had been pending for the past two years as the MUHS was not willing to spend and had asked the NMC to do the same. The NMC had told MUHS to look after the expenses while it would provide the infrastructure.

The PCMC has also tied up with MUHS for its post-graduate institute. The municipal corporation is bearing the complete expenses of the institute.