The Medical Council of India's stipulation that establishment of a medical college has to be near a government hospital has derailed the commissioning of two medical colleges in Tamil Nadu. These two medical colleges were expected to come up in Vellore and Kanyakumari. The Tamil Nadu government had thus allotted Rs. 10 crore for setting up the necessary building infrastructure. The state Public Works Department is now almost through with the buildings for the medical colleges at locations far off from the government hospitals, according to informed sources.

The sources said that it was surprising how the Tamil Nadu government did not take note of the MCI guideline. Another guideline from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare states that any state government, which wants to promote a new medical college, has to apply with the required registration fees to the Ministry first with a copy to the MCI. The state government is still to do the same.

The Vellore Medical College had already been through with a lot of hassles while the Kanyakumari Medical College was mooted last year. The Vellore Medical College has been on the backburner for almost two years. The previous government had identified a different location away from the government hospital when the MCI witnessed a change in its guideline for establishment of medical college.

The new guideline that came into force in the last quarter of 2000 stated that a medical college has to come up near a government hospital. Subsequently, the identified location was discarded for a new location a little away from the government hospital. The MCI team however did not give recognition to the same wanting it to be closer to the government hospital. A location near the government hospital was subsequently identified. The MCI is still to give recognition to the college though the Tamil Nadu government had assured that the college would function next academic session.

In the case of Kanyakumari Medical College, the earlier identified location was away from the government hospital and after which a location near the government hospital was identified. The Tamil Nadu government, in this case, has claimed that the admission would commence once the MCI gives the nod.