11 Medical Courses Declared Illegal in Chennai

Courses:

PG diploma in HIV medicine, occupational health, palliative medicine , clinical immunology, medical genetics, critical care in medicine, family medicine (distance education), medical imaging, diagnostic ultrasound , clinical laboratory medicine and clinical diabetology. 

The courses were to be offered from the academic year 2012.. A group of PG students approached the high court against the university's plan. 

Justice Paul Vasanthakumar pointed out that the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations 2002 states that physicians shall display as suffix to their names only recognized medical degrees or certificates or diplomas. He also said: "Without such recognition, if any person is allowed to suffix PG diploma in medical sciences along with MBBS degree, the general public will definitely get an impression that the physician is a specialist . Special status can be claimed by any physician only after getting an approved PG diploma and not half-baked diploma courses offered by the university." 

The university had admitted in the court that it had decided to start these PG diploma courses and granted permission to conduct the courses in 11 hospitals/medical colleges without prior permission of the Centre or the MCI.
 
The judge also rejected the university's claim that Section 10A(1) of the MCI Act would not stop the university from offering or granting permission to offer courses through the approved institutions. "It is
unsustainable and it is a statutory violation under Section 10A of the Act," he said. 

When the university's counsel pointed out that several private universities were offering diploma courses without the approval of the MCI, Justice Paul Vasanthakumar said: "If any other person including the university or the MCI approaches this court against such universities, this court will definitely consider the matter and pass appropriate orders."