In a move that should make setting up medical colleges easier, the apex medical regulator has proposed doing away with the requirement of such institutions having a full-fledged hospital that has been functional for a minimum of two years.
The universities, once the proposed amendment is adopted, can start medical colleges soon after setting up a hospital to be attached with it.
The National Medical Commission (NMC) has proposed this amendment in the Establishment of Medical College Regulations, 1999, and public opinion on it has been sought within the next 30 days.
The relief, however, has been proposed on the condition that the hospital and the medical college should be owned and managed by the same entity.
