Mumbai: Medical colleges aiming to become private universities in Maharashtra must be functioning for more than 20 years. Additionally, they should have a NAAC A+ grade or above and offer postgraduate courses in at least 50% of their disciplines, and these programmes must have been operational for at least 10 years. These were some of the conditions laid down in the eligibility criteria prescribed under an amendment to the Maharashtra Private Universities (Establishment and Regulation) Act, 2023.The amendment, passed recently, for the first time allows the establishment of private health sciences’ universities in the state. Till now, private universities were permitted to offer only higher and technical education courses, under the Act.Dr Vithalrao Vikhe Patil Foundation’s Medical College in Ahilyanagar and NKP Salve Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre in Nagpur have submitted their detailed project reports (DPRs) and are being considered for the private university status.The Act allows these universities to fix their own fees, conduct their own examinations, and confer their own degrees. As per the Act of 2023, private universities are not entitled for any financial assistance from govt and its students cannot claim any scholarship.While admissions in these universities will be based on NEET scores too, medical education secretary Dheeraj Kumar said that as per Supreme Court directives, admissions will be through common counselling, either through the state CET cell’s process or the central one conducted by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC). “We have written to the National Medical Commission (NMC) and are awaiting their response. If not through MCC, the state cell will carry out the process,” he said.As of now, the colleges have been included in the state’s counselling process, with a disclaimer. Another official added that students will soon get clarity on this year’s admission process.After proposals from a few trusts last year, a committee was formed with representatives from higher education and medical education departments to amend the law to include health science colleges. After the amendment, a scrutiny committee was set up two weeks ago with additional three experts from the medical field to consider the two DPRs.Under the amended law, the trust must have a recognised medical college with an A+ grade in NAAC and a CGPA of 3.01 or higher. The process also requires a no-objection certificate from the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS). The institutions will no longer remain under the MUHS.The Act will also cover health science courses such as dental, ayurveda, homeopathy, physiotherapy, nursing, occupational therapy, para medical and other allied science courses. These institutions will continue to be governed by the respective regulatory bodies such as NMC and Indian Nursing Council, among others.In the note citing reasons for the amendment, higher and technical education minister Chandrakant Patil had mentioned, “Health science courses have been started in private universities in other states in the country. There are demands from many institutions to establish private health science universities in the state. The govt considers it expedient to allow private institutes conducting health science courses having long standing experience and excellence, to establish private universities in the state.”Who can become a private health science university?* Medical colleges functioning for over 20 years* Colleges with NAAC A+ grade* More than 50% specialty departments, operational for at least 10 yearsHow many contenders this year?* Dr Vithalrao Vikhe Patil Foundation’s Medical College in Ahilyanagar and NKP Salve Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre in NagpurWhat will it mean for students?* Universities to fix their own fees, no regulation by FRA* No scholarships or any financial assistance to students* Colleges will no longer be affiliated to Maharashtra University of Health Sciences* Admissions will be through common counselling, either state’s CET cell or Medical Counselling Committee. Clarity in a few days for the current year’s admissions
