Medical aspirants who wish to pursue the discipline in New Delhi can apply to quite a few prestigious colleges, including the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), the Maulana Azad Medical College and Lady Hardinge Medical College near Gole Market. Vardhman Mahavir Medical College (VMMC) is the youngest among this lot. Attached to the Safdarjung Hospital, it is a postgraduate institute which recently received recognition (due for renewal in six months) from the Medical Council of India.

Rapid growth

VMMC, which is affiliated to the Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIP), New Delhi, was established by the Union ministry of health and family welfare in November 2001. Insiders say that the college was started almost overnight with little infrastructural facilities and the usual red tape. Despite the initial teething problems, it has evolved into a quality institution. It draws its teaching staff from Safdarjung Hospital’s body of doctors. Dr V.K. Sharma is the principal.

The institute has 100 seats and offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses in a number of disciplines including medicine, surgery, orthopaedics, obstetrics, gynaecology, paediatrics, anaesthesia, radiology, radiotherapy, ophthalmology, ENT, dermatology and rehabilitation. To facilitate a better academic atmosphere, the college plans to move into a brand new building with state-of-the-art medical and leisure facilities.

As Dr Sucheet Shukla, a final year student and the president of the students’ union, says, “The new building is simply marvellous. It has all the facilities which a medical institution would require.” A new hostel with 182 rooms has also come up to house students.

Safdarjung Hospital (on Aurobindo Marg), where the college is located, is the largest hospital under the ministry of health and family welfare. Few people are aware that Safdarjung is actually older than the institute on the other side of the road — AIIMS. The area is a medical hub — the Jai Prakash Narayan Trauma Centre is nearby.

Safdarjung was established during the Second World War in 1942. It was a base hospital for the Allied Forces, and was taken over by the Indian government in 1954. Until AIIMS was inaugurated in 1956, Safdarjung was the only tertiary care hospital in south Delhi. The hospital is reputed to be one of the premier health-care providers, having one of the best burns and plastic surgery units.

VMMC is closely supported by the Jain Welfare Social Association, which provides scholarships to meritorious students. A master of chirurgie (MCh) course is also run by the department of burns and plastic surgery. Every year, 31 MD, MS, MCh and diploma students enrol for the courses.

Strong base

“I chose the college over the other ones in the city because admission decisions are made on the basis of the all-India entrance examination. This gives it a better ranking than the others,” says Dr Lakshya Kumawath, an intern who is doing his postgraduation in gynaecology.

Medical colleges are often accused of not providing social and cultural avenues for resident doctors and students to unwind. However, VMMC does make an effort in this direction. A very active students’ welfare association forms the backbone of the college. The college magazine, Rouleaux, is eagerly awaited by students.

Admission to the MBBS courses is through the All India Entrance Test conducted by GGSIP. To be eligible, students should clear their Plus Two exams with 50 per cent aggregate marks in physics, chemistry and biology, with English as a subject. Application forms can be obtained from specified branches of Punjab and Sindh Bank or from GGSIP, Kashmiri Gate, New Delhi-110006. The entrance examinations are held in the month of June.

Graduates of the college are well-prepared to break medical barriers in the coming years.

Deepti Bharthur and Moonmoon Ghosh

Vital Statistics

WHAT IS IT? A new medical college.

WHO’S THE Principal? Dr V.K. Sharma.

How many seats? 100.

when was it established? In 2001.

Does it offer hostel accommodation? Yes.

To which university is it affiliated? Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University.

WHere is it located? Safdarjung Hospital, Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi. Phone: 011-26190763 Ext. 282 Website: www.vmmc-sjh.nic.in