In a letter dated 23/01/2023 addressed to the union secretary (Ministry of health and family welfare) Dr Ashwini Joshi, secretary to the government of Maharashtra wrote following things about courses being run by college of physicians and surgeons Mumbai.

1. The CPS courses are being run by government as well as private medical colleges as well as by stand-alone hospitals without any specific permission from the state government.

2. Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) conducted inspections of some of hospitals which run CPS courses. MMC visited total 120 hospitals and found that out of 120 hospitals 2 hospitals were closed, 74 institutes refused the inspection and 44 institutes where inspection was completed were found to have severe deficiencies.

3. The letter has also drawn the attention to various complaints and high court cases against CPS courses particularly EP 6751/2018 in Bombay high court.

4. Citing above points the secretary government of Maharashtra had expressed her opinion that admitting students in such institutes would be detrimental to the career of those students in particular and health system in general.

5. And then the letter asks for guidance from central government about these courses.

Our Medical Education Expert’s Opinion about above letter.

1. While it is true that many institutes/ hospitals and colleges have deficiencies it is the responsibility of CPS (the body which runs these courses) and MMC (which recognises these courses as additional qualificatio) to see to it that institutes running these courses fulfils the criteria and improve the facilities as laid down by MMC/NMC.

2.It is for the first time that we are hearing MMC has conducted inspection of some institute. Usually, the inspections are carried out by MCI/NMC or University to which these courses and institutes are affiliated to namely Maharashtra university of health sciences in Maharashtra.

3.It is widely known that the doctors who opt for CPS courses usually have less ranking in NEET PG. These doctors after completing CPS courses usually work in semi urban or rural areas and fills the gap of specialists in these areas.

4.It is also well known that public health department of government of Maharashtra has started various CPS courses in various district hospitals of Maharashtra to train its medical officers who after completion of these Post graduate medical diplomas run by CPS are giving specialist services in various state-run government hospitals in semi urban and rural areas.

5.All stakeholders should try to improve the facilities at these institutes rather than trying to de-recognise CPS courses.

6.Derecognising these courses or stopping admission in these courses would be detrimental to overall health system of Maharashtra particularly in rural areas where availability of specialists is already scant.