Ready to roll out quota in one go, this year: AIIMS

“We have done the whole exercise and if the Ministry ask us to implement it this year itself, we will very well be able to do it. We can increase the seats in one go as we have less students,” said Sunil Chumber, Sub-dean, AIIMS.

The authorities are of the view that they have enough infrastructure and manpower for the proposed increase in the number of seats. “There are 50 students (for MBBS, in one batch) and 550 faculty members. We have space for hostels and have many vacant hostels. We have the money, faculty and space and if the ministry says, we will definitely be able to do it this year,” added Chumber.

The Ministry today held a review meeting attended by the Union Health Minister, A Ramadoss, representatives of medical and dental colleges and health officials. The Ministry also issued a circular today to 12 medical institutes under it asking them to come up with their action plan in a week. The modalities will be discussed at a meeting slated for April 17.

In 2006, under director Dr P Venugopal, the institute had asked for three years to implement the quota. “The present authorities are overlooking the recommendations presented to the Oversight Committee in 2006,” said a senior AIIMS official.

The Ministry said the recommendations of the Veerappa Moily committee would be taken into consideration. “However, if AIIMS can do it in one go, they can go ahead,” said an official.

A representative of the Resident Doctors Association said his union will go to court if “an attempt is made to please the Minister without looking into the ground realities.”