Manpower crunch dogs Palamu med college

The medical college and hospital in Daltonganj is having trouble with conducting MBBS courses because of the massive manpower crunch. There are 292 students from first to third year MBBS courses, but the college has had its hiccups since day one of its functioning. The worst was when the national medical commission, the body that oversees medical education in India, disallowed admission of 100 students in the first year MBBS course in the academic year 2020-21 citing deficiencies in faculty members and infrastructural facilities. Acting principal of the college, Dr. R.D. Nagesh, said there are only six professors working in the institute as opposed to the sanctioned posts of 18. The strength of the associate professors is equally dismal as against the 29 sanctioned posts only eight are working. Similarly, out of 43 sanctioned posts of assistant professors only 20 are appointed. Nagesh said, "There are departments like forensic medicine and toxicology, radio diagnosis, orthopaedics, skin and psychiatry among others where there are no teachers." Sources said a three-member team from the National Medical Commission, which visited the institute recently, was alarmed by the inadequacy the college is now keeping its fingers crossed over its fate. When the commission comes up with its recommendation