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Maharashtra government has formed a high-level committee on the directions of Maharashtra Chief Minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis to prepare a detailed policy plan for giving autonomy to Grant Medical College (GMC) and Sir J.J. Group of Hospitals in Mumbai and Government Medical College and Hospital in Nagpur.
The Committee has to submit a detailed report to the government within three months. The Committee will be provided with necessary information and technical support through the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER).
Maharashtra CM said that the government's aim is to make the academic quality, research capacity and healthcare services of major government medical institutions in the state more effective through giving them autonomy.
Former chief secretary of the state Jayant Kumar Banthia has been appointed as the chairman of this committee. The Medical Education and Pharmaceuticals Department has issued a government decision in this regard.
Established in 1845, Grant Medical College (GMC) and Sir J J Group of Hospitals in Mumbai are among India's oldest and most prestigious medical institutions. GMC is one of the oldest medical colleges in South Asia, affiliated with the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), offering top-tier medical education. Collectively, these hospitals in Mumbai have a capacity of 1885 beds and cater to approximately 1.2 million out-patients and 80,000 in-patients annually, serving individuals from all parts of Maharashtra and Central India.
The Committee also includes Dr. Rajendra Badve, former director of Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH), Dr. Sanjay Oak, former director of KEM Hospital, Dr. Ranjit Mankeshwar, associate dean of Grant Medical College, Dr. Rajesh Karyakarte, professor and head of department at B G Government Medical College, Pune and Dr Rajendra Shivaji Bangal, registrar of the MUHS, Nashik as members. Also, the administrator of Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) will be the member secretary of the committee.
The committee will study the current administrative and academic structure of government medical colleges in the state, the need for granting autonomous status, potential benefits, as well as successful models from home and abroad. This will include a review of the management practices of institutions like AIIMS, PGI Chandigarh and Tata Memorial Hospital.
It will study the composition and powers of the Board of Directors and Academic Council for autonomous colleges. Powers and responsibilities of the Director/Principal, recommend the financial and administrative mechanisms required for autonomous system. The committee will make recommendations regarding financial independence, internal revenue generation, audit system, as well as new service conditions and policies for employees and teachers. The committee will also guide the government on necessary legal, administrative and policy changes.
While granting autonomy to government educational institutions, it will suggest transfer of powers in administrative and financial matters to increase their efficiency. It will recommend monitoring, evaluation and accountability mechanisms for the efficiency of autonomous institutions. The committee will also prepare a plan for the phased implementation of the policy.
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