A series of notifications were made public today with regards to the functionalisation of the Shillong Medical College (SMC) and other government medical and nursing institutes.
A fees committee that will fix and regulate fees chargeable to students admitted to government medical or nursing institutions was also formed. This committee was notified on June 23.
It will be chaired by the Commissioner and Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Department, with the Director of Health Services (Medical Education and Research) the Member Secretary. Five members from the Meghalaya Medical Council, Directorate of Higher and Technical Education, reputed Chartered Accountant, Joint Secretary to the Finance Department and representative of the Law Department have also been included.
The purpose of the committee will be to require medical institutions to place before the committee the proposed fee structure of their institution with all relevant documents and books of accounts for scrutiny well in advance of the commencement of the academic year, i.e. not later than December 31 of the previous academic year. The committee will verify whether the fees proposed by the institutions are justified and do not amount to profiteering or charging of capitation fee, approve the fee structure or determine some other fee which can be charged by the institutions.
The fee determined by the committee shall be binding on the government medical or nursing institutions for three years. At the end of the said period, the institution would be at liberty to apply for revision. The fee so determined shall be applicable to a candidate who is admitted to an institution in that academic year and shall not be revised till the completion of his course in the said college.
Meanwhile, dated May 9 but released to the press today, the SMC notifications, issued in the Governor’s name, revealed the membership of the SMC Council and committees to be involved in the running of the institution. The committees will deal with ragging, gender harassment, pharmacovigilance (drug safety), curriculum.
The SMC Council will be chaired by the college Dean, who will be supported by 14 Heads of Department (HODs).
