State health sciences quota unfilled
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Government has failed to make full use of the ten seats reserved by the North Eastern Council (NEC), starting from 2009, for students from the State for pursuing various degree courses at Down Town College of Allied Health Sciences in Assam.
“At present, preferences are given to people already in service to take up these degree courses on allied health sciences. This year, about five people who are already in service have been selected for various such courses,” Health department Officer and Special Duty (OSD) P Dkhar told reporters recently.
He admitted the Government is yet to fully capitalise on these ten seats reserved by NEC, adding that from next year onwards, these seats would be fully capitalised for the benefit of the students.
Meanwhile, the State NCP youth wing has alleged that though the academic session of both bachelor and post-graduate courses of allied health sciences had started in 2009, the State government is yet to avail of this opportunity for the benefit of the youth here.
Asked if the Government had issued any advertisement to inform students about these seats at Down Town Hospital, he said this was not necessary now, since they had already issued advertisements for MBBS and other courses.
Responding to queries, Dkhar clarified these courses were earlier first offered to students who had failed to get MBBS admission. However, no one was willing to take them.
“Students are hesitant to do so since there is no job assurance after completion of these courses. They will also have to pay the fees and other expenses on their own,” he added.
Meanwhile, details with the State NCP youth wing reveal that the DoNER Ministry, via NEC Secretariat, in letter dated July 1, 2009, had informed the Commissioner and Secretary (Health and Family Welfare) about commencement of the degree courses on Allied Health Sciences at Down Town College of Allied Health Sciences at Panikheti (near Guwahati), in Assam, under Down Town Charity Trust, Guwahati.
The letter stated that the trust and college authority had agreed to reserve one seat in each discipline under NEC quota for the North Eastern states, in lieu of grants sought from NEC for setting up of academic infrastructure in the College.
The ten bachelor courses offered at Down Town College of Allied Health Sciences include radiology, advanced imaging technology, trauma and emergency care, medical course in laboratory technology, bachelor in critical care, OT technology, food nutrition and dietetics, bachelor in social work, blood bank and MBA in hospital management.
As per the NEC allotment, Meghalaya has ten seats, one for each course.
The NEC had observed that introduction of these courses would benefit States in the North East by delivering services in the health sector and improving quality of services in health care, in addition to the young generation also finding a career in the healthcare industry.
Source: The Shillong Times
