It was set up in such a hurry that it left the medical fraternity breathless. However, after that, the surprises it threw up were only unpleasant - tangles over affiliation of medical colleges formerly under the various universities of the state, dilution of course content and mismanagement of the forthcoming Common Entrance Test (CET) for admission to medical courses.Ever since the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) was set up at Nashik, an incredible seven months after the state Cabinet cleared the proposal in October 1997, it has evoked only consternation among students, their parents and medical professionals.But the haste with which it was established - it even operates out of a municipal building - and the consequent fallout, does not perturb state Minister for Public Health and Medical Education, Dr Daulatrao Aher. A pet project of Dr Aher situated in the district from which he hails, the university is the best thing that has happened to medical education in Maharashtra duringhis tenure, he tells Sudeshna Chatterjee. Excerpts from an interview.What is the single-most constructive thing you have done for medical education during your tenure?The establishment of the MUHS, of course. But it is felt the university was set up in haste and with insufficient staff. At the moment, 70 staff members have been deputed at the university from the state Medical Education Department. I think that is adequate.It is, however, reported that only 30 staff members have joined till date.Others are also joining. The MUHS is a new entity. Give it some time.Still, the registrar, C D Deshmukh, resigned a couple of weeks ago, saying he could not discharge his duties for want of manpower.Suit yourself. Deshmukh resigned due to personal reasons.But the university does not have its own premises. Even the online network linking it with colleges that you promised has not materialised.No new institution has its own place in the beginning. As forthe online network, all colleges have been asked to install a computer with the Internet. At the moment, the MUHS can utilise the V-Sat stationed at the Nashik collectorate's office.Both the Mumbai and SNDT universities have protested the switchover in affiliation of medical colleges to the Health University.That cannot be helped. Under the MUHS Act, all medical colleges have to be affiliated to the MUHS.Does this mean that the Pharmacy Department of University Department of Chemical Technology (UDCT), which is semi-autonomous, should be affiliated to the MUHS?What autonomy are you talking about? There has not been any notification issued by the state government conferring the autonomy. So obviously, as per the law, it should fall under the MUHS.Do you mean the MUHS is functioning up to expectations?It is too early to assess this. We shall see once the forthcoming examinations are conducted.What about the allegation that syllabi have been diluted while introducinguniformity?The syllabi have been framed by subject experts state-wide. Uniformity does not necessarily mean dilution.There have been complaints over the price of the CET application form, and examination fee, which is Rs 800.On the contrary, we have made it more economic. Till last year, there were different forms for different disciplines - one for Medical/Dental (Rs 300), one for Ayurveda/Homeopathy (Rs 250), Physiotherapy/Occupational Therapy (Rs 200), etc. So depending on the discipline, a student has to buy more than one form to exercise his/her options. Now all the options are available in a single form.Still, it is more expensive that even that of the prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences, which charges a combined only Rs 350.Wardha Medical College charges Rs 1,250. What about that? Considering the overheads and cost of conduct of the examination, the price cannot be reduced.Will the price be reduced in future?That cannot be done.But thedemand for documents like Nationality Certificate and Caste Validity Certificate has driven parents round the bend.These are necessary. However, we have eased the process by accepting affidavits and by extending the dates of both collection and submission of the CET form. Parents can always approach me with complaints.CHRONOLOGY OF THE MUHS In 1987: Central government issues guidelines for establishment of health universities country-wide. October 22, 1997: State Cabinet clears university for Maharashtra June 10, 1998: Maharashtra University of Health Sciences inaugurated at Nashik Temporarily housed in a building leased out by the Nashik Municipal Corporation Six persons (office superintendent, head clerk, stenographer, peon and two clerks) deputed from the state Health Department to get work started July 10, 1998: Dr D G Dongaonkar is appointed vice-chancellor
