Kuala Lumpur: The Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) has said it would write to the Medical Council of India (MCI) on the implication of the de-recognition of the Kasturba Medical College in Manipal in Karnataka, as it affects several Malaysian students.

It wants to know if the de-recognition is because the standard of teaching at the colleges has come down, The Star newspaper said on Friday..

"The decision means that to a certain extent, the quality must have gone down," a MMC spokesman said, adding that the recognition of doctors as well as medical programmes and institutions come under its purview.

Manipal is popular among Malaysian students. Students at the Melaka Manipal Medical College (MMMC) do three years of clinical training in Malaysia and two years of pre-clinical in India.

An official from the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) said the decision by the MCI would result in the public thinking that the quality of Manipal's medical degree had gone down.

"Students in Malaysia might be affected as they are studying in a university that has been de-recognised by its own council," the spokesman said.

MCI announced last week that it would no longer recognise Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) courses offered by the Kasturba Medical Colleges in Manipal.

"There were several inadequacies in the college which would not allow students to benefit completely from the course," Bernama quoted a senior MCI official as saying.

Manipal University Pro-Chancellor H.S. Ballal, however, said that although the MCI had de-recognised the institution, the ultimate decision would depend on the Indian health ministry.

"We have written to the health ministry and they have sent a team to observe the university.

"We have also submitted a report and the matter is still pending, and we hope to get a reply within two to three weeks," he said.

Melaka MMC dean John Arokiasamy said MCI's decision would not affect its ongoing twinning programme. IANS