INDIA NOT RECOGNISING MANIPAL MEDICAL DEGREES

By P. Vijian

NEW DELHI, Feb 7 (Bernama) -- The Indian Government is reluctant to recognise medical degrees offered by Manipal University, citing the institution's teaching and clinical facilities as not on par with government standards.

"The de-recognition remains. We have asked them (Manipal University) to
comply with the regulations, and given them a year (from 2008) to address the
problem," Ministry of Health and Family Welfare secretary Naresh Dayal told
Bernama Saturday.

Over 500 Malaysian students are currently pursuing medical and dentistry
courses at the Manipal University, located in the southern state of Karnataka.
It is private-owned and caters largely for foreign students.

Last August, the Medical Council of India (MCI) jolted the medical
fraternity when it said it would not recognise the Bachelor of Medicine and
Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) courses offered at Kasturba Medical College in
Manipal and Mangalore.

The MCI, a powerful regulatory body of medical institutions in India, also
urged the ministry to take appropriate action against Manipal, which it alleged
was not well-equipped in terms of facilities and staffing.

The ministry is unhappy over the sharing of facilities by Indian and
foreign students as it could affect the quality of education.

Dayal said the complaints were nothing new and Manipal had yet to rectify
the shortcomings.

Last year, Manipal University's Pro-Chancellor Dr H. S. Ballal told Bernama
that the university had written to the ministry and that they had sent a team to
observe the university.

He had said the matter was still pending.
-- BERNAMA