The proposal by the Eqbal Committee formed by the Kerala Government to study the feasibility of setting up a Medical University in the State has raised a controversy among the teaching fraternity in the State. The university is expected to include only modern system of medicines in its scope.

The Committee has reported that the University could be set up by 2008 and should be fully functional by 2010. The report was submitted to the Kerala Health Minister on April 7. According to sources, the report calls for including only modern system of medicines in the University.

The committee had further suggested the government to start a new University for Alternate Systems of Medicine if they desired to. Sources said that the Committee had neglected the ASM even during the process of preparing the report.

Pharmacy teachers associations alleges that medical bodies such as Indian Medical Association and Kerala Government Medical College Teachers Association (KGMCTA) had played a role in making the committee propose the inclusion of modern medicine system alone in the proposal.

This they allege because the IMA and the KGMCTA had been against the inclusion of ASM in the university from the very beginning and it was no surprise if they had pressurized the committee to take a step favourable step in that direction.

"The decision the committee had taken is not right. This is not the way to conduct a study. Only if the other systems of medicine are included will there be scope for integrated research activities. Such research would help in bringing out novel drugs. Moreover there are many universities dedicated to modern medicine and if the government really wants it to make it as a novel one then the inclusion of ASM is pertinent," said sources.

Stating that there was no proper University for Ayurveda or Homeopathy, sources said that this scenario had resulted in the lack of regulation of the ASM education sector. So they had desired that the proposed university with ASM system of medicine would act as a nodal agency for setting common standards and uniformity in ASM education.

According to sources, the report states that the location of the University should be decided upon at the earliest and that a project officer should be appointed till a Vice Chancellor (VC) takes charge. It says that the Project Officer would take care of all the activities of the University till the powers are transferred to the VC.

The report demands that the Government should allocate another Rs 3 crore by the end of this year apart from the Rs 3 crore provided earlier. It states that a total sum of Rs 10 crore would be needed to make the University function in a full-fledged manner. There was also a proposal in the report to have 7 research centres in the University.

The proposal recommends treating the Government Pharmacy, Nursing and Paramedical colleges as Constituents of the University and not just affiliates. The report also states that the Staff of these government colleges should be treated on par with the University staff.

The Health Minister has assured to takes measures in implementing the prescribed measures after discussions in the cabinet. According to sources, there was every chance to set up the University in Mullankunathukavu Medical College in Trichur, as it had a spacious land.

As Pharmabiz had reported earlier, the Kerala government had formed a six-member committee to study the feasibility of starting a medical university for Kerala and to suggest ways for improving medical colleges in the State. Former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kerala Dr B. Ekbal was made the chairman of the committee. He had held meetings on the issue in five locations in Kerala and also discussed the issue with focus groups.