The Centre for Traditional Medicines and Research (CTMR), an NGO for giving training for Siddha physicians and students in Chennai, has come down heavily on the department of Ayush for its delay in granting permission for the ISM medical colleges to admit students for graduate and post-graduate courses for the academic year 2013-14.

In the first list announced by the Ayush department, only one medical college from Tamil Nadu--the Government Unani Medical College in Chennai-- has got the approval for admitting students for graduate and post-graduate courses for the current academic year. Though there are 13 colleges conducting Siddha, Ayurveda and Unani courses in the state, none has received the permission from the department till September 13.

According to CTMR secretary, the department has permitted only 54 colleges in the country as on 13.9.2013 to admit students for the UG and the PG courses with a deadline upto September 30. He said the delay in granting permission to other colleges for admitting students will affect the admission process and the counseling and it will cause the students lose six months to get admitted in each course. All over India, more than 450 medical colleges conduct various ISM medical courses.

While briefing Pharmabiz about the Ayush department’s idle way of approaching things, Dr T Thirunarayanan, the secretary of CTMR said the reason cited for the delay is poor infrastructure facilities in colleges and lack of senior faculty positions and bed-strengths which continue to exist in both the government and private medical colleges. He said the government of Tamil Nadu has sanctioned sufficient funds to the two government colleges, but the dearth of efficient and senior academicians is the hurdle. Admitting students before the approval from CCIM is likely to cause court interventions. To avoid such bottlenecks, the department of Ayush should permit the colleges to conduct admissions before the deadline of registration is over, he said.

Government Siddha Medical College, Palayamkottai in Tirunelveli, Government Siddha Medical College, Arumbakkam, Chennai, Akila Thiruvithamcore Siddha Vaidya College, Kanyakumari, Sri Sai Ram Siddha Medical College & Research Centre, Chennai, Velumailu Siddha Medical College, Sriperumbudur, National Institute of Siddha, Tambaram, RVS Siddha Medical College, Coimbator, Sivaraj Siddha Medical College, Salem, Dharma Ayurved College & Hospital, Kancheepuram, Sri Sairam Ayurved College & research Centre, Tambaram West, Shri Jayendra Saraswati Ayurved College, Nazarpeth, Government Ayurveda Medical College, Nagercoil and  Ayurveda College, Coimbatore are the institutions conducting various ISM educational courses in Tamil Nadu.

Permission for admission was granted for the 54 medical colleges for the academic year 2013-14 under section 13C / 13A of the IMCC Act, 1970.