9/28/2014 Medical Council of Mauritius

http://www.medicalcouncilmu.org/ 1/5
COMMUNIQUE
SP MEETING REPORT- 05/09/2014
Concerning recognition/ listing of University of Technology
(Mauritius) as a Medical Institution under the Medical Council Act.
I have been instructed by the Medical Council of Mauritius to
publish this communiqu in the press and in the website of
Council.
Dr K.DEEPCHAND
Registrar
Medical Council of Mauritius

Council has taken note of a number of press articles published in Le Mauricien (on
28th August 2014, 3rd September 2014 and 4th September 2014) as well as in the
online edition of lexpress newspaper of 5th September 2014.
The Medical Council wishes to highlight the following:
1. According the Medical Council Act, the Council is the sole body empowered to
register practitioners in medicine in Mauritius, likewise TEC is governed by the
Tertiary Education Commission Act and UTM is governed by the University of
Technology, Mauritius Act;
2. Council wishes to highlight that regulations which provided for the listing of
medical institutions are made pursuant to sections 42(1)(a) and (b) of the Medical
Council Act and Council, after considering the credentials, background and other
relevant matters relevant to an institution may either recommend or not
recommend the listing of an institution to the Minister. Within the parameters of the
law, the Minister may, notwithstanding the fact that an institution is not
recommended for listing, still proceed with the listing of a University;
3. It is recalled that Council, prior to the emergence of disturbing facts surrounding
Padmashree Dr D.Y Patil Medical College, which led to the setting up of a Fact-
Finding Committee set up by the Tertiary Education Commission as well as an
Enquiry Committee set up under the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life,
recommended the listing of UTM as awarding body for courses run by Padmashree
Dr DY Patil Medical College. Councils recommendation for listing was made to the
Minister of Health and Quality of Life on 30th January 2014. Council received an
email from 2 Indian students of Padmashree Dr D Y Patil Medical College on 7th
February 2014 and following this, matters of grave concern were voiced out in the
public domain about the quality of course run by Padmashree Dr D Y Patil Medical
College. Council held a special Board meeting on 21st February 2014. Following
the meeting Council decided the following:
a. to no longer recommend the listing/recognition of University of
Technology(Mauritius) UTM, given the serious allegations with regard
to the training provided to the postgraduate students of Padmashree
Dr D Y Patil Medical College and also because of allegations of forged
records.
b. to set up a committee to fully investigate into each and every
allegations levelled against the Medical College
4. On 21st February 2014 the Senior Chief Executive of the Ministry of Health and
Quality of Life wrote to Council stating the following:
I. The views of the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science, Research
and Technology were sought and the latter has stated that legal
clearance be sought with regard to the definition of a medical
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institution as defined under section 2 of the Medical Council Act.
II. Legal clearance has accordingly been sought from the state law
office and the latter has sought clarifications regarding
(a)the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) between DYP Worldwide Ltd (DYP) and the
University of Technology Mauritius (UTM) and, which
indicate that the programme is owned by both UTM and
DYP;
(b) provided UTM has been authorised by the Tertiary
Education Commission to provide courses leading to a
diploma in medicine, it may be prescribed as a medical
institution for the purposes of the courses in medicine
dispensed pursuant to the MOU; and
(c) clarifications whether UTM under the MOU is
providing undergraduate or postgraduate course, or
both in medicine.
III. Clarifications on the above were sought from the Ministry of
Tertiary Education, Science, Research and Technology.
IV. in the light of recent press articles where serious allegations have
been made against DYP Worldwide Ltd, further clarifications are being
sought by this Ministry from the Tertiary Education Commission and
the Council will be informed accordingly. However, it would be
appreciated if the Council could seek additional information in respect
of any provision incorporated in the Memorandum of Understanding to
ensure that the various provisions are being complied with. You may
also wish to request a copy of the last report of the International
Monitoring Committee to ensure that the recommendations satisfy the
requirements of the Council for the listing/registration of the University
of Technology, Mauritius as a medical institution.
V. in view of the above, it would be appreciated if you could submit
your recommendations to the Ministry.
5. Council notes that in a letter dated August 22, 2010 sent to the Tertiary Education
Commission, it (the Council) stated the following:-
the Tertiary Education Commission is therefore being requested to
ensure compliance with all the elements laid down in the Clinical
Training Framework for postgraduate medical training in Mauritius
failing which Council will not recommend the recognition/listing of the
concerned postgraduate medical institutions. The specialist
qualifications awarded will consequently not be recognized for the
practice in medicine in Mauritius.
6. Council further notes that on 21 February 2014, Cabinet decided that a team of
academics from the UK be invited to undertake a quality audit of all
tertiary education institutions in Mauritius. It stands to reason that courses
run by all tertiary education institutions would include courses run by Padmashree
Dr D Y Patil Medical College.
7. Council further notes that despite written requests and reminders issued to both
the Tertiary Education Commission and to the Ministry of Health & QL, Council has
not been provided with any of the findings of Fact Finding Committee report and the
Enquiry Committee report. Council also notes that the quality audit of all tertiary
education institutions in Mauritius reflects the importance attached by Cabinet
to the reputation of Mauritius and it would be very unwise for Council to proceed
with any listing of a tertiary medical institution in Mauritius before it is in presence of
all relevant facts.
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8. Council wishes to highlight that if the UTM may, in law, set up a medical school, it
does not follow that all the graduates of UTM are automatically eligible for
registration. Normally, the listing of an institution by the Council takes around 6
months.
9. Council wishes to highlight that its Special Committee (as mentioned at para 3(b))
found the following matters of grave concern with courses run by Padmashree Dr D
Y Patil Medical College in Mauritius:
a). During interview with the Consultant in Charge of the Subramanien
Bharati Eye Hospital and Dr Sharma Dean of the Padmashree Dr D
Y Patil Medical College, the following shortcomings came into light -
there was one postgraduate student who was left without any
academic support due to absence of a Professor and an Associate
Professor of D.Y. Patil Medical College since June 10, 2013 ( i.e.about
nine months). It is common knowledge that both academic and
clinical training are sine qua none components of a specialist
postgraduate training. Due to absence of these grades of teachers,
there has been a big deficiency in the training of the postgraduate
students in question;
b). Consultants in charge have been designated as lecturers as per
the Memorandum of Understanding between Ministry of Health & QL
and Padmashree Dr D Y Patil Medical College. Some consultants in
charge expressed satisfaction about the Padmashree Dr D Y Patil
Medical College academic staff, but others had serious reservations
about the profile of certain professors;
c). At interview, at least two consultants in charge confirmed that
there was no professor from Padmashree Dr D Y Patil Medical College
for almost one year, namely in ophthalmology and surgery. Council
considers this as a serious lacuna in training. The consultants in
charge themselves started the academic training like seminars,
literature reviews, thesis, etc which were should have been under the
responsibility of Padmashree Dr D Y Patil Medical College academic
staff;
This issue was left unaddressed being given the consultants in charge
were responsible for clinical training only;
d). Certain consultants in charge were not even aware that there
existed a logbook for entries regarding clinical activities and
interventions carried out by the Post graduate students. When asked
as to who was supposed to certify the veracity and accuracy of entries
made in the logbook, the responsibility was shifted on Padmashree Dr
D Y Patil Medical College academic staff, whereas most of the clinical
activities, interventions and surgeries were under the general
responsibility of a consultant in charge;
Council is very sceptical about certain entries in the logbooks. A
matter of particular concern was the fact that certain postgraduate
students in surgery had done very few or no interventions
independently or even under supervision. They were present either as
observers or assistants, yet they have graduated as surgeons
(MS);
e). Consultants in charge stated that they were involved only in
organisation of clinical/practical examinations, but had no say either in
its conduct or marking. The Dean confirmed that certain students were
given grace marks, which explained the 100 % pass rate in all
specialities. - a very unlikely occurrence in most foreign medical
institutions;
f). The methodology of selection of postgraduate students was
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questioned by certain consultants in charge, which explained the
profile of some of them;
g). The issue of students without registration with the Medical Council
of Mauritius was also raised. Some consultants in charge stated that it
was not their responsibility to countercheck whether they were
registered or not. They assumed that this preliminary verification must
have been done by Padmashree Dr D Y Patil Medical College
administration;
h). As explained the Dean said that those students who were not
registered with the Medical Council of Mauritius acted only as
observers and did not examine patients, neither write in case folders
or sign prescriptions nor did they do any interventions or Surgery.
Council views this very seriously in that postgraduate students who
are supposed to have hands on training were allowed to continue
their training as observers;
i). Consultants in charge confirmed that there was no dedicated
accommodation for postgraduate students at night. In certain cases an
improvised arrangement for one postgraduate student was made in
the office of the consultant in charge, while for other cases, the
postgraduate students were simply not staying on site for night duty.
This was particularly true when there were more than one
postgraduate student on night duty in different academic years. One
cannot overemphasize the importance of being resident doctor on
duty when doing postgraduate training;
j). Consultants in charge were also asked about any Quality
Assurance exercise by the University of Technology (UTM) to ensure
proper implementation of postgraduate training leading to award of
MD/MS degree by this institution. They unanimously stated of not
being aware of any such exercise;
k). From the Memorandum of Understanding, International Monitoring
Committee reports and interview of consultants in charge, it was
evident that there were various shortcomings. In fact Council noted
that in the light of the report of Fact Finding Committee set up by the
Tertiary Education Commission, the latter even had to resort to
requesting Padmashree Dr D Y Patil Medical College not to enrol new
postgraduate students until they satisfied requirements of the Medical
Council and the clinical training framework;
l). The issue of informed consent forms specifically for postgraduate
students and staff of Padmashree Dr D Y Patil Medical College to be
able to examine and intervene on patients were raised. Compliance
with this was uncertain;
m). Before the start of the postgraduate course, consultants in charge
had drawn the attention of the authorities about the inadequate
facilities at the J.Nehru hospital for postgraduate training.
Nevertheless, in total disregard to this, the training was launched.
10. Council further wishes to highlight that its concerns about the quality of courses
run by Padmashree Dr D Y Patil Medical College in Mauritius are further buttressed
by reported comments of students of Padmashree Dr D Y Patil Medical College who
will refuse to submit themselves for assessment by the Post-Graduate Board of
Medical Education. Council takes note that the Minister of Health and Quality of Life
has, by the establishment of this Board, ensured the protection of patients. Since
the Board has been constituted, 51 applicants who have applied for registration as
specialists have been assessed and 17 have failed the assessment and have not
been registered by the Council as specialists. Amongst those who have passed
there are a good number of them who are experienced practitioners
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11. At its sitting of Wednesday August 27, 2014, Council took note of the fact that it
has been deprived of the Fact Finding Committee report of the Tertiary Education
Commission and the Enquiry Committee Report of the Ministry of Health & Quality of
Life. These reports are fundamental and would have thrown more lights on the post
graduate courses in medicine being offered by the Medical College in question.
12. Council is not engaged in any profit-making exercise and acts, within the
parameters of the law, striving to ensure the safety of patients.
13. Other institutions namely TEC and UTM, involved in the Padmashree Dr D Y Patil
Medical College issue are invited to shoulder their responsibilities vis--vis the
Mauritian public and to take note of Cabinets decision of 21st February 2014.