SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Nov 30: Dr Mrinal Gupta has made history by becoming the first post-graduate (PG) student at Shahid Nirmal Mahto Medical College Hospital (SNMMCH) Dhanbad. He reported for admission today, marking a significant milestone for the 55-year-old state-run institution.
SNMMCH started a PG course in the 2024 academic session for the first time. The National Medical Commission (NMC) has approved nine seats for the course, including six in medicine and three in orthopaedics.
Prof. (Dr) Sunil Kumar Verma, Head of the Biochemistry Department and PG admission in-charge at SNMMCH explained that the institution has received approval for nine PG seats. These include five seats under the state quota and four under the central quota.
He also stated, “Admission in PG would continue until December 4. Students are likely to appear for admission in 2nd and 3rd counselling. Higher-ranking students of first counselling generally seek admission in better institutions.”
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JCECEB quota and selected candidates
Based on the first counselling, the Jharkhand Combined Entrance Competitive Examination Board (JCECEB) released the names of five students selected from its quota for admission in medicine and orthopaedics. The selected students include Dr Luky Kumari (MD General Medicine), Dr Mrinal Gupta (MS Orthopaedics), Dr Garima Rani (MD General Medicine), Dr Kumar Saurabh (MS Orthopaedics), and Dr Vidushi Das (MD General Medicine).
SNMMCH third medical college in Jharkhand with a PG course
Dr Mrinal Gupta, who completed his MBBS from SNMMCH as part of the 2017 batch, has the distinction of becoming the institution’s first-ever PG student.
With NMC’s approval, SNMMCH Dhanbad becomes the third medical college in Jharkhand to offer PG courses, following Rajendra Institute of Medical Science (RIMS) Ranchi and Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College Hospital (MGMMCH) Jamshedpur.
Other state-run medical colleges like SBMCH Hazaribagh, PJMCH Dumka, and MMCH Palamu currently only offer MBBS programs.
Former principal Dr Jyotiranjan Prasad is credited with the success of launching the PG course at SNMMCH. In the 2022 academic session, he increased the MBBS intake from 50 to 100 seats and secured approval for the PG course this year.
It is noteworthy that in 2013, the Medical Council of India (MCI) approved an increase in MBBS seats to 100, but in 2017, 50 seats were reduced due to faculty and infrastructure constraints.
