MP medical college students launch social media campaign against poor facilities

AAggroup of undergrad students at the regime Medical College in Madhya Pradesh (MP)’s Sheopur has launched a societal media run against what they called mismanagement and a crippling shortage of faculty, practical training, and books, after failing internal exams. They blamed inadequate faculty and poor facilities for the poor exam results.The students sought the medical education regulator National Medical Commission (NMC)’s intervention, saying their future is in jeopardy. “We have qualified NEET [ National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test]... A building alone cannot make us doctors without proper faculty, technical staff, and basic amenities. Medical education at Sheopur is collapsing,” said a student.The students submitted complaints to the college dean and medical education officials, highlighting that only 22 of the 118 teaching posts have been filled at the institute, which was inaugurated last year.A second student complained about a lack of regular classes, practical training, and clinical exposure. “We have teachers who are mainly just medical graduates. In the past five months, we hardly had a practical class. Even for dissection, we got a male body in February. The dissection is yet to be completed. We are yet to get a female body to learn,” said the student, questioning how the NMC is allowing such grave mismanagement.A third student said the library has been locked since December. “We purchase books from Gwalior [over 200 km away] as there is no local market here. Many students cannot afford books. They are facing difficulties in studying. How will we clear the exam without?”The students pointed out that crores have been spent on establishing the college, and yet it lacks even the basic facilities. “Students are facing power outages in hostels, irregular water supply, insufficient security at girls’ hostel, and an unfinished approach road.”A college staffer said the construction of a bridge over a river connecting Sheopur city and the medical college remains incomplete. “Since the district hospital is nearly 10 kilometers away, there is a risk that the college’s connectivity will be disrupted during the monsoon season.”Vipendra Bhadkariya, the college dean, acknowledged that the institute faces issues, including vacant teaching posts and expert faculty. “I have raised the matter with the medical education department, and soon the problems will be resolved.”Additional chief secretary (health) Ashok Varnwal said all posts related to the first year of MBBS have been filled as per standard procedure. “We are going to run a special drive to fill the vacant posts at medical colleges across Madhya Pradesh.”