Medical colleges in MP struggle with empty classrooms:50% faculty posts vacant in old colleges, 90% in new ones; students forced to rely on online education

Madhya Pradesh’s medical education system is facing a severe crisis. Out of 19 government medical colleges, only seven have enough faculty to teach students properly. The remaining 12 colleges suffer from a severe shortage of teachers. Many new and even older colleges are struggling to provide basic facilities for training future doctors. Students are often forced to learn online due to absent teachers and inadequate infrastructure. Faculty shortages plague medical colleges In old colleges like Sagar and Chhindwara, almost half of teaching posts are vacant. In new colleges such as Sheopur and Singrauli, over 90% of faculty positions remain unfilled. Even where buildings and lecture halls exist, most rooms and labs are empty or locked. 1. Bundelkhand Medical College, Sagar Bundelkhand Medical College, established in 2007, has 270 sanctioned posts. Currently, only 136 staff members are present. Many crucial positions, including nine professors, 30 associate professors, and over 60 assistant professors, remain vacant. Most labs, including the Histology lab, are dusty and unused. Some high-value equipment worth millions is left without security. Only one lecture hall was found conducting a class; the rest were empty. 2. Government Medical College, Satna Satna’s medical college began in 2023 and currently has 450 MBBS students. The college is linked to the District Hospital, which is 8 km away. Students without personal transport spend 2–3 hours daily commuting and incur Rs 150–200 extra per day. Out of 170 sanctioned posts, 80 remain vacant, including professors and assistant professors. Lecture halls exist but are underused due to a lack of faculty. Government Medical College, Singrauli Singrauli’s new college admitted over 90 MBBS students this year. Classes have been conducted mostly online due to absent faculty. Out of 116 sanctioned posts, only 12 staff members are appointed. Infrastructure is incomplete, and foundation courses were online. Experts say new colleges often borrow faculty from older colleges just to meet National Medical Council (NMC) approval requirements. Government Medical College, Sheopur Sheopur’s medical college has the worst situation in the state. Out of 116 sanctioned posts, only 13 are filled. Students have returned home as classes have not started. Hostels are closed, and labs, including anatomy labs with cadavers, are not yet functional. The college has furniture for only a few students, and overall campus activity is minimal. FAIMA Survey highlights poor facilities The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) surveyed medical colleges nationwide. The report revealed that 89.4% of colleges, both government and private, have poor infrastructure. The shortage of faculty, staff, and hospital facilities is affecting the quality of medical education. Risk of producing under-prepared doctors Experts warn that poorly equipped colleges are producing doctors with incomplete knowledge. New colleges without proper hospitals and teaching staff are adding to the problem. Dr. Rakesh Malviya, President of the Progressive Medical Teachers Association, said improving existing colleges should be prioritised before opening new ones. Administration fails to respond Repeated attempts to contact Dr. Aruna Kumar, Director of Medical Education, were unsuccessful. She declined to comment on the state of medical colleges, citing her busy schedule.