North Bengal Medical College and Hospital


North Bengal Medical College and Hospital is a public medical college and hospital in Siliguri, West Bengal, India. Established in 1968, it is the first medical college in the northern region of West Bengal. It is one of the 26 government medical colleges in West Bengal and the largest in terms of area. The hospital has a bed strength of 1,500.
WWW nbmch.org

Latest events

In the recent train collision on 17 June 2024, the injured people were brought up to this hospital. The Ministry of Railways announced a compensation of ₹10 lakh for the dead, ₹2.5 lakh for those seriously injured and ₹50,000 for those with minor injuries.

History

It was established in 1968 as the first medical college of North Bengal. Originally envisioned by Bidhan Chandra Roy, the planning was executed by Ajit Kumar Panja, the then state health minister. Ajit Kumar Duttagupta joined as the first official principal of the college which was then known as North Bengal University Medical College. NBUMC was rechristened in August 1978 to North Bengal Medical College & Hospital and the administrative control went from University of North Bengal to Government of West Bengal and later to West Bengal University of Health Sciences.

The first batches

The premedical classes started on 6.11.67 in a makeshift arrangement at Jackson medical school, Jalpaiguri. 2nd to 6th batch of students undertook their premedical course at Raigunj University College. 7th batch onwards, the students started their premedical course at NBMC campus, Sushrutanagar, their own place.
Classes for 1st-year MBBS course for 1st batch started on 18.11.68 in NBU campus. MBBS classes started in Sushrutanagar, the present site of NBMC in 1972. The first 5 batches had to migrate to SSKM hospital for their clinical lessons after passing 2nd prof. First 2 batches completed internship and housemanship there. The college got its recognition from the Medical Council of India in 1978.

Introduction of postgraduation courses

In 2004, the institute achieved the milestone to be reckoned as the Post-graduate institute with introduction of MD/MS courses in five specialised disciplines like Anatomy, Physiology, Community Medicine, Pathology and Anesthesiology, which were recognized by the Medical Council of India in 2007. Since then more postgraduate courses were added in the fields of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, General Medicine, General Surgery, Gynaecology & Obstetrics, Orthopaedics, Paediatrics, Ophthalmology, Radiodiagnosis, Psychiatry, Otorhinolaryngology and other subjects.

Increase of undergraduate seats

From 2013 onwards Undergraduate seats had been increased by 50, which made the annual undergraduate students intake to 150 but from the year 2017 the newly added 50 seats were slashed by the MCI on grounds of lack of infrastructure but again in the year 2018, intake was increased to 150. From 2019 intake was again increased to 200.

Campus

North Bengal Medical College & Hospital is located in Sushrutanagar, locally known as Noukaghat, to the west of Siliguri, connected to the town by the 3rd Mahananda bridge. Sushrutanagar, Darjeeling,, otherwise referred to as 'medical' by the local people, is more or less 5 km from proper Siliguri. The nearest Railway Station is New Jalpaiguri about 11 km away and the nearest Airport is Bagdogra Airport about 9 km from the Campus
The college and hospital buildings, spread over a sprawling campus of, are connected by very long corridors which total a length of 2.6 km. The North Bengal Dental College and the Nursing Training College are also located in the same campus.
In 2021, the hospital established the Virus Research & Diagnostic Laboratory, which has been instrumental in testing for respiratory viruses, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. By 2022, the hospital expanded its testing capabilities to include 21 different viruses, further strengthening its role in managing infectious diseases. In 2023, NBMCH planned to start adenovirus testing, capable of testing at least 50 samples per day from all North Bengal districts.

Organisation and administration

Governance

The college and hospital are funded and managed by the Government of West Bengal.

Principals

  • A. K. Dutta Gupta
  • S. C. Laha
  • L. K. Ganguli
  • J. N. Bhadury
  • S. K. Biswas
  • A. K. Ram
  • J. N. Bhadury
  • A. Nandy
  • P. K. Gupta
  • S. P. Banerjee
  • G. K. Das
  • P. K. Mukherjee
  • A. K. Kar
  • S. K. Basu
  • B. Sarkar
  • Dipti Basu
  • Udayan Ganguly
  • Utpal Kumar Datta
  • Sangita Bhattacharyya
  • J. B. Saha
  • Udayan Ganguly
  • J. B. Saha
  • T. K. Bhattacharya
  • Anup Kr. Roy
  • Samir Ghosh Roy
  • Gen. P. K. Deb
  • Indrajit Saha
  • Sanjay Kumar Mallick

Academics

Affiliation

The college was affiliated to the North Bengal University since its inception. Starting from the 2003 admission batch, it is formally affiliated to the newly formed West Bengal University of Health Sciences.

Admission

Entrance to the college for MBBS is on the basis of ranks achieved by the student in National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) conducted by the NTA, as is the case with nearly all other medical colleges in the country by a Supreme Court order.
For postgraduate courses, one has to clear the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Postgraduate).

Academic programmes

The courses offered are:

Undergraduate courses

  • M.B.B.S.
  • B.Sc. in Nursing
  • GNM Nursing
  • ANM Nursing

Post-graduate courses

Research level (super-specialization)

Paramedical and technologist under State Medical Faculty of West Bengal

  • D.M.L.T - Diploma in Medical Lab Technology
  • D.P.T - Diploma in Physical Medicine
  • D.Dial - Diploma in Dialysis.
  • D.R.D - Diploma in Radiology.
  • D.C.C.T-DIPLOMA IN CRITICAL CARE TECHNOLOGY.

Conferences and workshops

The college hosts numerous Undergraduate & Postgraduate Conferences throughout the year.
Notable Conferences hosted/will be hosted by the institution includes-
  • NUMESCON- It is the national undergraduate medical students' conference of North Bengal Medical College held in the month of March. The conference has hands-on workshops, sessions by eminent speakers of the medical fraternity and various other interactive events.
The First Numescon was in 2015 and saw participation from all over India as well as neighbouring countries as Bangladesh.
  • Embarkon – an annual intra-college Undergraduate conference & workshop

Hospital services

Selected under MoHFW PMSSY scheme for super Speciality care
which would include 255 beds for super speciality care in neurosurgery, CTVS, Plastic surgery and Burn, Paediatric Surgery, Cardiology, Neurology and so forth.

Student life

Demography

Every year 200 students graduate from the college. Besides, there are postgraduate students in various streams. Most students are from outside Siliguri and stay in the campus hostels. From the 2013 to 2014 session, it has been decided to increase the number of undergraduate seats by 50.

Hostels

Boys

  • J.B.H. - for 1st year and 2nd-year students.
  • N.B.H. - for 3rd year and 4th-year students.
  • S.B.H. - for final year students and interns
  • Intern Hostel - for House staffs and Internees. The postgraduate trainees are also accommodated in the same hostel.
  • P.G Boys Hostel- for post graduate students.

Girls

  • L.H. - 2nd year and 3rd-year students and house staffs.
  • K.G.H - for 4th year, final year students, interns and house staffs.
  • N.G.H. - for 1st-year students.
  • P.G Girls hostel - for post graduate students.

Associations

  • NBMC ex-students association

Cultural programmes

  • The annual inter-college fest Plasma spanning 4 days is held in the month of September. It is a big event with noted artists performing and students displaying their creative fervour. Other than NBMC students, Plasma also sees active participation by students from nearby colleges like North Bengal Dental College, Siliguri Institute of Technology, North Bengal University, Jalpaiguri Government Engineering College.
  • Ujan - This is a popular Cultural Forum formed by the Medical, Dental and Paramedical students of this institution. "নবচেতনা" is the official magazine of Ujan.
  • Students also celebrate Martyrs' day of Saheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, Mastarda Surya Sen, Khudiram Bose and birthday of Netaji, Norman Bethune every year.
  • The ex-students re-union Nostalgia is held in the post weekend of 18 November o every year for two days in a row.
  • The freshers' welcome takes place every year to greet the new batch of MBBS students.
  • Students celebrate Saraswati Puja every year in traditional style.
  • Rabindra Jayanti is another annual event marking the birthday anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore.
  • The college Foundation Day is observed every year on 18 November.
  • College also organises Grand Iftar, during Ramadan.
  • Students also celebrates Kali Puja, During Diwali, Which is a unique event.
The college students have formed their own bands. Umami, Whistling Woods, Intoxication, Doctors Chamber, Bipolar and Phonation are the most famous in the campus.
2017, the Golden Jubilee year Plasma, was celebrated with the welcome of eminent band like Fossils.