For the first time, a private hospital in Andhra Pradesh, Medwin Hospitals, a super speciality healthcare centre, has been granted recognition by the Medical Council of India (MCI) for offering internship to MBBS graduates. So far only government general hospitals attached to medical colleges were recognised for the purpose of internship.

According to a hospital press release, an MCI team which had conducted inspection of the facilities available at Medwin with regard to infrastructure, teaching facilities, equipment, laboratories etc in February this year, had found them to be as per the specified norms. The recognition would give one more option for the students studying at both private and government medical colleges in Andhra Pradesh to undertake their internship that lasts one year. It is mandatory for MBBS students to complete the course of four-and-a-half years and then undergo "compulsory rotating internship training" for 12 months in order to qualify for the degree.

While the hospital has expressed its willingness to extend its multi-speciality hi-tech facility for the trainees to be exposed, the recognition also throws open opportunities to medical graduates who have done their MBBS course at medical colleges recognised by the MCI anywhere in the country or abroad.

According to a hospital source, the internship would start from this academic year. Since the hospital continues to maintain a very high standard, there would be great demand from the students to undergo internship in this hospital.