About 12 private homoeopathy colleges in the state have objected to admission procedures for homoeopathy courses coming under the purview of allopathic doctors of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS).
Currently, the managements of homoeopathy colleges are not represented in the admission selection panel of RGUHS. This is in contrast to the frequent announcements pertaining to regulation of admissions to medical, dental and engineering colleges.
In a major decision, to fight out the issue of government agencies regulating medical education, who did not invite the managements of private homoeopathy colleges to discuss improvement in the standards or policy making with regard to admission, the State's 12 private homoeopathy colleges have come together under the Karnataka Private Management Association of unaided and Minority Homeopathic Medical Colleges and Hospitals.
The managements of 12 private homoeopathy colleges have also questioned the policy of admitting the 'government' candidates paying lower fees and about government quota seats being wasted every year.
The students in private homoeopathy colleges had their own problems regarding examinations, internal assessments and the carry over system. The principals of these colleges were caught between the universities and the Central Council of Homoeopathy.
All medical colleges were affiliated to the RGUHS. "The need for coming under the banner of Karnataka Private Management Association could make a major difference in the admission procedures," informed K Chandrashekar, president, Karnataka Private Management Association.
Managements of private homoeopathy colleges have invested in infrastructure and teaching staff in standards not different from those of medical and dental colleges. The Central Council of Homoeopathy had fixed strict infrastructure norms but the question of government quota in admission required extensive discussion. The financial needs of each student had to be balanced by the fees paid by the students, informed Chandrashekar.
Quoting an instance of negligence by the RGUHS where a decision was taken on fixing the last date for admission with no concern for the difficulties of homoeopathy colleges. There was no dialogue with the college managements who could have admitted students who could not get into other medical and dental colleges, said Chandrashekar.
He wanted the government and the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health sciences to invite the associations for a discussion on these issues.