NASHIK, June 10: The Maharashtra Health Science University, swathed in layers of controversy, was finally inaugurated by Governor Dr P C Alexander at a function attended by Chief Minister Manohar Joshi as well as Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde at Nashik this evening.Snipping the ribbon, the Governor said there is an urgent need for research in techniques on health delivery systems to reach out to the State's vast populace. Proper training of doctors and regular upgradation of their knowledge is also vital, he said.Pointing out that 70 per cent of doctors practise in cities and towns, which house only 30 per cent of the State's population, he said only 20 per cent of the rural populace is serviced by this section of medical professionals. Moreover, doctors in government hospitals in the cities are so worn out that each one spends less than two minutes per patient, the governor added.Despite the woeful lack of medical services in rural areas, he said it is improper to compel young medicalgraduates from cities like Mumbai to practice in rural areas, where 60 per cent of villages are populated by less than 1,000 people and lack the infrastructure and comforts they are used to.Stressing the need for the university, also called the Maharashtra Arogya Vidnyan Vidhyapeeth, to offer good training programmes for medical students and doctors, he cautioned against its deterioration into an institution which merely conducts examinations.Chief Minister Manohar Joshi said the new university is proof of his ministers' efforts bearing fruit and added that the university's location has been decided unanimously. Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde said the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad which had objected to its composition, had discussed the issue with him as well as the Governor and is satisfied with the outcome.The ABVP, which had planned demonstrations at the venue, withdrew its agitation after meeting Munde and submitting a memorandum to the Governor. It had strong reservations over HealthMinister Dr Daulatrao Aher being appointed as the university's ex-offio pro vice-chancellor.The university is the fourth of its kind in the country, after similar ones in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The bhoomi pooja for the new building is slated for October 1, 1998, on a 20-hectare plot near Mhasrul.The location of the university has, however, been challenged in the Bombay High Court by Nagpur, which is demanding that it be located in that city.
