Lok Sabha Question No. 836 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-20
Subject: SCTIMST
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: N.K. PREMACHANDRAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.836 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20/12/2017

## SCTIMST

## 836. SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY òãðìððÐð ¡ðøÜ ÑßðøÌðð÷ò±ð¨îó  Ùðüëðó be pleased to state:

(a) whether  Sree  Chitra  Tirunal  Institute  for  Medical  Sciences  and  Technology  (SCTIMST)  decided  to  award MPH degree to a course and examination conducted by a private institution IIPH Delhi; (b) if so, whether the decision has been taken on the basis of amendment in regulations and recommendations by the institute body; (c) whether the Government entrusted the governing body of SCTIMST to take such decision and enter into MoU with PHFI for issuing Degrees of SCTIMST for the courses conducted by PHFI; (d) if so, the copies of the orders and details thereof; (e) whether  the  governing  body  of  the  SCTIMST  is  competent  to  reduce  the  basic  qualification/the  medical qualification fixed for admission to Master of Public Health in to the qualifications other than medical qualification without recommendation of institute body, Government and amendment of regulations; and (f) if so, the details and copies of the orders?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES

## (SHRI Y.S. CHOWDHARY)

## òãðìððÐð ¡ðøÜ ÑßðøÌðð÷ò±ð¨îó ÙðüëððâðÚð Ùð÷ü Üð¸Úð Ùðüëðó +ÉÉè® ÑðöÆãðó òãðìððÐð ÙðüëððâðÚð Ùð÷ü Üð¸Úð Ùðüëðó

## (gÉÉÒ ´ÉÉ<Ç. AºÉ. SÉÉèvÉ®ÉÒ)

(a) Yes, Madam. SCTIMST had given affiliation to Master of Public Health (MPH) degree of National Institute of Epidemiology  (NIE),  Chennai,  (a  Government  of  India  institution  under  the  Indian  Council  of  Medical  Research), Christian  Medical  College  (CMC),  Vellore  (a  100%  Private  Institution)  and  the  Public  Health  Foundation  of  India

(PHFI) (a Public Private Partnership)  for their campus at Indian Institute of Public Health (IIPH), Delhi. (b) The decision to affiliate the MPH Programme has been taken as per the provisions of the Act and Regulations. As the Governing Body of the Institute was empowered to give affiliation to academic courses, the recommendation of Institute Body was not taken. (c) & (d):  Yes Madam. The Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum, Act 1980, read  with  the  Sree  Chitra  Tirunal  Institute  for  Medical  Sciences  and  Technology,  Trivandrum  Regulations  1981, provides powers to the Governing Body in the matter. Section 12 (c), 13 (g), 23, 24 of the Act and Regulation (xii), (xxxi) and (xxxiv) of Schedule I empowers the Governing Body in the matter. (e) & (f): In this case, the Governing Body has not reduced the basic qualifications.  Basic qualifications prescribed for MPH programme, since its inception in 1997, included medical and non-medical degrees and continue to be so as on date. The Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum Regulations 1981, was amended in 2011, vide Gazette Notification F.No.-DR III(4)/ 5/2010/No.DSTAI Admn/1-35/2011/SCT dated 22.12.2011 with the approval of Governing Body and Institute Body and prior approval of the Central Government, to add 21 medical/ non-medical degrees/ diplomas /certificates and academic distinctions, in Schedule IV of the said Regulations. In  the  amendment  notification  itself,  it  is  explicitly  mentioned  that  'in  accordance  with  Section  24  of  the SCTIMST Act, 1980, the degree courses 6-13 above are to  be treated  as  medical  degrees  awarded  to  those persons holding  recognized  medical  qualifications  under  the  Medical  Council  of  India  Act,  1956  (102  of  1956)  and  shall  be deemed to be included in the First Schedule to that Act'. Thus, the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree issued by SCTIMST will be considered as medical degree only for those having medical qualifications under the Medical Council of India Act, 1956 and a Master's degree for others.

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