The proposal to introduce a Common Medical Entrance Test was officially put on hold with the Centre and the state governments deciding to hold more discussions.
The Central government has decided to increase the intake capacity in medical colleges, introduce a Bachelor of Rural Health care (BRHC) course and provide financial support to the states to start a minimum of 50 medical schools for the BRHC course in the under-served states in the 12th Five Year plan. This was part of the Hyderabad Resolution drawn up during the two day health ministers’ meet held in the city.
At the state health ministers’ and secretaries’ meet chaired by the Union minister of health and family welfare, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, besides reforms in medical education, various issues related to infectious and non-communicable diseases, maternal and child health and regulatory issues were discussed.
The state governments have been asked to take immediate steps to increase intake capacity — up to 250 — at the MBBS level in all government colleges across the country and also to increase post graduate seats.
State governments will take steps to ensure early establishment of the eight regional institutes of paramedical sciences and strengthen the pharmacy institutes.
Further, the introduction of the Bachelor of Rural Health care course was unanimously endorsed in the meeting. Financial support to the states will also be given to start a minimum of 50 medical schools for the BRHC course in un-served and under-served states during 2011-12.
The proposed scheme of Common Eligibility and Entrance Test (CEET) was discussed and further dis
cussions will be held in this regard.
As regards reproductive and child health, various measures will be taken to bring down the infant mortality rate and maternal mortality ratio.
These include ensuring manpower in all primary health centres, antenatal and neonatal care, name-based tracking and immunisation, checking anaemia and malnutrition, setting up of blood banks and ensuring other infrastructural developments at district hospitals and health centres. Special attention will also be given to remote, hilly and tribal areas.
In the field of disease control, the focus areas are prevention, control, early diagnosis and complete treatment of malaria, a massive awareness campaign for spreading general awareness about hygiene and sanitation before the onset of monsoon and early detection of TB. Multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is also emerging as a major public health problem and will be urgently addressed.
Meanwhile, the proposal to introduce a Common Medical Entrance Test was officially put on hold with the Centre and the state governments deciding to have more discussions on the matter before taking any decision.
Source : DC