The State Government decided to open medical colleges from December 1 and execute a non-negotiable examination calendar to assure regularity in administering examinations. Due to this decision, the students and health professionals in almost every area are divided where some students support the decision; others want the classes to resume from 1st January, assuming the pandemic situation will improve.

Due to the Coronavirus pandemic’s outburst, all the schools, colleges, and universities, the medical colleges were closed from mid-March, which dawdled the academic session’s commencement for fresh MBBS students by almost four months and interruption of clinical preparation of final year students.

After the review meeting, the Additional Chief Secretary of Health department PK Mohapatra addressed college authorities to start classes under strict adherence to Covid-19 guidelines and SOPs regarding social distancing and restriction of the spread of coronavirus.

Around 400 students are registered in four batches in the private Hi-Tech Medical College and Hospital (HTMCH) in the city, a division of which was transformed into a Covid-19 hospital in April this year by Sundargarh district administration. Many students stay at a hostel, and few of them are day scholars. While the theory classes were covered through the online platform, but the students are yet to attend the practical clauses, which are only possible when the colleges will be reopened.

Article Written by Dikhya Mohanty

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