Editor
In Short: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has penalized around 40 medical colleges in India for non-compliance, risking the cancellation of their recognition. Issues found include faculty and infrastructure deficiencies, as well as problems with CCTV installation and biometric attendance. The NMC's actions aim to uphold quality standards and allow colleges to appeal and address the identified issues.
NEW DELHI: In a significant move aimed at upholding the standards of medical education in India, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has initiated action against nearly 40 medical colleges across the country for their failure to comply with rules and regulations. Sources have revealed that these colleges are being scrutinized for various reasons, including the lack of required faculty and infrastructure.
Assam Medical College, Gauhati Medical College, and FAAMC in Barpeta are among the 40 medical institutions in India that have had their recognition revoked by the National Medical Commission (NMC), in a significant move aimed at upholding standards in medical education. Recent inspections conducted by the NMC revealed that these institutions failed to meet the prescribed criteria.
The inspections conducted by the NMC have unveiled significant non-compliance issues in the colleges under scrutiny. These institutions have been found to be in violation of the standards set by the regulatory body for granting recognition to medical courses. The lapses primarily pertain to the installation of CCTV cameras, the implementation of Aadhaar-linked biometric attendance procedures, and discrepancies in faculty rolls.
One particular concern highlighted during the NMC inspections is the practice of temporarily transferring doctors from other medical colleges or assigning junior doctors to senior positions to conceal vacancies and present a full faculty strength. The NMC has previously addressed this issue in a letter sent to the department of medical education in all states, flagging it as a matter of concern.
As a result of their non-compliance, the affected medical colleges now face severe consequences, including the cancellation of their recognition. This means that they may no longer be able to run medical courses, significantly impacting the education and training provided to students enrolled in these institutions.
Moreover, it is anticipated that several other medical colleges in states such as Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry may also face similar action by the NMC, potentially resulting in the loss of their recognition.
The actions taken by the NMC are part of a broader effort to ensure that medical colleges maintain the required standards and provide high-quality education to their students. By addressing the identified issues and going through the appeals process, the impacted institutions have an opportunity to rectify the deficiencies and regain their recognition.
The NMC's actions come at a time when the number of medical colleges in India has witnessed a significant increase in recent years. According to Bharati Pravin Pawar, the Minister of State for Health, there has been a 69% rise in the number of medical institutions, from 387 in 2014 to 654 as of the present. Additionally, the count of undergraduate MBBS seats has increased by 94% from 51,348 in 2014 to 99,763 presently, while the number of postgraduate seats has risen by 10% from 31,185 in 2014 to 64,559 at present.
It is crucial for the NMC to enforce and uphold the standards of medical education to ensure that students receive the highest quality instruction and training. The appeals process provides the impacted institutions with an opportunity to address the identified issues and work towards regaining their recognition, ultimately serving the best interests of the medical education system in India.