A group of undergraduate students at Madhya Pradesh Government Medical College, Sheopur, launched a social media campaign against what they described as mismanagement and severe shortage of faculty, practical training and books, after failing in internal examinations. They blamed inadequate teaching staff and poor facilities for the poor examination results.
The students requested the intervention of the National Medical Education Regulatory Commission (NMC), saying their future was in danger. “We qualified NEET [ National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test]…The building alone cannot make us doctors without proper faculty, technical staff and basic facilities. “Medical education in Sheopur is collapsing,” said one student.
The students submitted complaints to the dean of the college and medical education officials, noting that only 22 out of 118 teaching positions had been filled at the institute, which was opened last year.
Another student complained about the lack of regular classes, hands-on training, and clinical exposure. “We have teachers who are basically just medical graduates. In the last five months, we have barely had a practical class. Even for anatomy, we got a male body in February. The anatomy is not complete yet. We are yet to get a female body to learn,” the student said, questioning how the National Medical Council allowed such serious mismanagement.
A third student said the library had been closed since December. “We buy books from Gwalior [over 200 km away] Because there is no local market here. Many students cannot afford books. They face difficulties in studying. How will we finish the exam without him?
The students pointed out that millions of dollars were spent on establishing the college, but it lacks even basic facilities. “The female students face power outages in the hostel, irregular water supply, inadequate security in the girls’ hostel, and the access road is incomplete.”
A college employee said that the construction of a bridge over a river linking the city of Sheopur and the medical college is still incomplete. “Since the district hospital is about 10 km away, there is a risk of disconnection from the college during the monsoon season.”
Vibindra Bhadkarya, dean of the college, admitted that the institute was facing problems, including vacant teaching positions and expert faculty. “I have raised the matter with the medical education department, and soon the issues will be resolved.”
Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Ashok Varnwal said that all posts related to the first year of MBBS have been filled as per standard procedures. “We will organize a special drive to fill vacancies in medical colleges across Madhya Pradesh.”
