Balasore: Uncertainty looms large over the formal opening of the government medical college here from the current academic session as it is yet to receive the nod of the Medical Council of India (MCI), the statutory body for medical education in India.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik had announced during his recent visit to the medical college that the admission into the college would begin from the 2018-19 academic session.

The MCI team had last inspected the facilities of the district headquarters hospital as well as of the medical college in November 2017. During the visit, the team had pointed out certain infrastructure deficiencies. However, the district administration claimed that they had already addressed the issues.

"The shortcomings that were pointed out by the team during their visit have been addressed properly. The MCI team was expected to come for the final visit latest by the first week of this month. But we are yet to receive any information on their visit," said district collector Ramesh Rout.

The delay in arrival of the MCI team has led to frustration not only among the officials, but also among the local people. Several social organisations are planning to hit the street on the issue. "It will be a severe blow to our hope and aspiration if the college doesn't get the approval to start from the coming session by third week of this month. We have no idea why the team is not visiting the district," said a social activist, adding that they were chalking out protest programmes.

The dean of the medical college, Pratap Rath, also said he didn't know why the MCI team had not come yet. "The infrastructure is ready. One hundred eighteen doctors, including senior residents, have already been posted. They are sitting idle. We had informed the MCI team in January about our readiness for their inspection. But, it is not clear why they are delaying visit," said Rath.

"It the team doesn't visit by April, the beginning of college from the 2018-19 academic session may not be possible since the entrance tests are supposed to be held in May," he said. Balasore MP R.K. Jena said: "I have written several letters to the Union health ministry and also spoken to the Union ministers urging them to begin the college from 2018-19 academic session. I will approach them once again."