PMC Medical College Faces Crisis: Faculty, Patient-load & ICU Missing

Pune, Maharashtra: The Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical College, run by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), is facing a major crisis. It was launched 3 years ago. Despite having admitted three batches of MBBS students since March 2022, the institution is facing an acute shortage of faculty and the lack of critical hospital infrastructure, conditions that are now threatening both student careers and regulatory approval.

Students at the college, which operates with Kamla Nehru Hospital, have raised serious concerns regarding their academic and clinical training. The National Medical Commission (NMC) and the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) have both served warnings to the college for falling short on multiple parameters mandatory required for a functioning MBBS institution.

Faculty Crisis at PMC’s Medical College

One of the most critical issues is the severe faculty shortages. Out of the sanctioned 99 senior-level teaching posts, only 17 have been permanently filled, while the rest of the teaching staff continue to be appointed on a temporary or contractual basis. This is far below the 80% permanent staffing norm mandated by the NMC for continuity, quality, and accountability in medical education.

“In core departments like Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, there are no full-time faculty members. As a result, we’ve had to depend on external hospitals like YCMH in Pimpri-Chinchwad for even basic autopsy demonstrations,” said a second-year MBBS student.

The lack of regular faculty has left students in jeopardy, especially during clinical postings. As per NMC rules, hands-on clinical training and interaction with experienced faculty are non-negotiable aspects of undergraduate medical education. A deficit in this area not only undermines learning but can also disqualify students from eligibility in exams and licensing processes.

No ICU, No Operating Theatre, and Low Patient Load

The second, and arguably more damaging, issue is the lack of functional clinical infrastructure. Kamla Nehru Hospital, the attached facility for clinical training, does not yet have a working Intensive Care Unit (ICU) or a Surgical Operating Theatre (OT). These facilities are vital for student exposure to emergency and surgical care cases.

Without them, students are restricted to observing only basic outpatient and general ward procedures. This has drastically reduced the patient inflow, especially for complex cases, resulting in bed occupancy falling well below the 75% norm required for teaching hospitals.

“How are we supposed to learn without seeing real patients? We’ve barely seen any serious cases. No deliveries, no surgeries, no ICU rounds. We feel like we’re wasting the most important years of our training,” said another student on condition of anonymity.

Additionally, the absence of a mortuary (dead house) has further hampered forensic medicine training, a mandatory part of the MBBS curriculum. So far, students have reportedly witnessed only a single autopsy demonstration in three years of education.

Regulatory Pressure from MUHS and NMC

The college is under the microscope of both the National Medical Commission (NMC) and the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), which have issued multiple show-cause notices. In recent months, officials from both bodies have conducted inspections and warned the college of derecognition or de-affiliation if deficiencies are not urgently addressed.

“We can’t deny affiliation if the NMC grants approval. But we have strictly asked the college to fulfill all criteria, faculty, patient load, infrastructure, at the earliest. If not, affiliation will be withdrawn,” said Dr. Milind Nikumbh, Pro Vice-Chancellor of MUHS.

Insiders confirm that the NMC is also considering prohibiting future admissions until compliance is met. This could be a severe blow, not just for the college’s reputation but also for the municipal corporation’s vision to promote affordable medical education.

PMC’s Response: Infrastructure Push and Hiring Drives

Facing mounting pressure, the Pune Municipal Corporation has launched damage-control measures. According to PMC Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram, the civic body has initiated 23 walk-in recruitment drives to hire faculty members, even from unreserved categories, on a temporary basis.

“We are trying our best to hire qualified teaching faculty and provide the needed infrastructure. We’ve requested special permission for direct appointments where roster constraints exist,” the Commissioner told media.

Simultaneously, construction is underway for a new campus near Naidu Hospital, which is expected to accommodate classrooms, hostels, and more advanced hospital blocks. The civic body has targeted August 2025 for partial operationalization of the new facilities.

Students, who now feel like unwilling participants in an institutional experiment, are demanding urgent reforms. Their key concerns include:

• Immediate hiring of qualified, permanent faculty in all departments
• Completion of ICU, OT, and mortuary facilities
• Guaranteed patient exposure as per MBBS norms
• MUHS assurance that their degrees will not be invalidated
• Timely updates on NMC recognition status and next inspection

“We don’t want to protest or strike. We just want to study medicine properly. Is that too much to ask?” asked a final-year student during a campus feedback session.

Healthcare experts and educationists warn that this crisis reflects a systemic failure in India’s rapid expansion of medical colleges without adequate planning.

“India needs more doctors, but not at the cost of quality. If new colleges are approved without ensuring teaching hospitals, beds, faculty, and equipment, we’re risking the future of students and patients alike,” said Dr. Shirish Patwardhan, former Dean of B.J. Medical College, Pune.

Quick Summary

Issue	Status
Faculty Shortage	Only 17 of 99 permanent posts filled
Clinical Facilities	No ICU, OT, or mortuary yet functional
Patient Load	Below required 75% bed occupancy
Student Impact	Minimal clinical training, poor exposure
NMC/MUHS Action	Show-cause notices issued; next inspection expected
PMC’s Response	Recruitment drives, new campus in progress

The Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical College has the potential to be a model public institution offering affordable MBBS education in Pune. But unless urgent steps are taken to meet the basic requirements of faculty and infrastructure, the college risks not just regulatory censure, but also the future of hundreds of aspiring doctors.

For students who joined with hope, the current situation is worrying. It is now up to PMC, MUHS, and NMC to ensure that this vision does not collapse under the weight of poor planning and administrative delays.