122 Suicides, 1270 Drop-Outs in Last 5 Years: NMC Constitutes National Task Force to address mental health concerns of medicos

New Delhi: Responding to a Right to Information (RTI) application, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has revealed that in the last five years, altogether 122 medical students committed suicide and 1,270 medicos dropped out of college.

Filing the RTI, activist Dr. Vivek Pandey sought the details of undergraduate and postgraduate medical students who committed suicide during the last 5 years till December 2023. He also requested NMC to provide the details of medicos who dropped out of institutes during this time period.

As per the data provided by the Apex Medical Commission, among the 122 medical students who committed suicide, 64 were pursuing MBBS course and 58 of them were pursuing various PG medical courses. The Commission further informed that out of 1270 students who dropped out of college, 153 were MBBS, and 1,117 were PG medical students.

The NMC data has been revealed at a time when recently, taking cognizance of cases of depression and suicide by medical students, the Anti-Ragging Committee of NMC has set up a National Task Force to address the mental health of medicos.

Comprising of 15 members of the Apex Medical Commission, this task force will study the existing literature and data on mental health and suicide of medical students, analyze factors contributing to these challenges, and propose evidence-based strategies for improving mental health and preparatory of suicides. The committee may also pay a visit to the colleges where incidents of suicides have been reported.

Issuing an order dated 21.02.2024, NMC announced that the National Task Force on Mental Health and Well-being of Medical Students will submit its final report by 31st May, 2024. During this period, the task force will submit its progress report to Anti Ragging Cell of NMC once in a month, NMC mentioned.

NMC Reply to RTI: 

NMC provided the details regarding the number of medicos who committed suicide and who dropped out of medical colleges on 07.02.2024. As per the data, 64 MBBS students committed suicide in the last five years from 2018-2022. 

Among the 58 PG students who committed suicide during this time period, 12 students were pursuing MS in Clinical branches, 36 of them were pursuing MD in clinical branches and 10 of them were pursuing MD/MS Pre and Para clinical branches. The data further revealed that 153 MBBS and 1117 PG medicos dropped out of their institutes during these last five years.

National Task Force on Mental Health and Well-being of Medical Students:

The NMC has constituted a National Task force and clarifying the issue of reporting by the Task Force, the Commission mentioned that "The Task Force shall submit a comprehensive report outlining key findings and actionable recommendations for promoting mental health of medical students by 31 st May, 2024. Task force will submit the monthly progress report to the Anti Ragging Cell."

As per the NMC order, the Task Force shall convene regular meetings, either virtually or in-person, as necessary to fulfill its mandate. Apart from this, additionally, the committees may also visit the medical colleges where incidents of suicide have been reported. "Committee may co opt other Members on need basis to facilitate its study and timely finalization of report," stated the order.

"This issues with the approval of President, UGMEB and Chairperson of Anti Ragging Cell, NMC," further mentioned the order issued by Sujender Singh, the Deputy Secretary of NMC Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB).

This Task Force will be chaired by Dr. B. M. Suresh, a Professor of Psychiatry Dept of NIMHANS. It will also comprise other members of NMC including NMC Ethics Board member Dr. Yogendra Malik, Dr. Nandini Desai, Dean of Jamnagar Medical College, Dr. Geeta Guin, Dean of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College, Jabalpur, Dr. Naveen Sankhayan, Professor of Paediatrics Department of PGIMER Chandigarh, Dr. Vijay Kumar, Professor of Plastic Surgery Department of King George's Medical University, Lucknow, Dr. Bhavuk Garg, Professor of AIIMS Delhi Orthopaedics Dept, Dr. K Senthil. Professor of Department of Medicine of GMC Madurai, Dr. Pushpendra Mallik, Professor of Surgery Depat of Bhagat Phool Singh Govt Medical College for Women, Sonipat, Dr. Reetu Hooda, Professor of Ob-Gyn Dept of PGIMS Rohtak, Dr. Kamlesh Upadhyay, Professor of Medicine Dept of B.J.Medical College, Ahmedabad, Dr. Sumit Rana, Associate Professor of Psychiatry Dept of Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi, Dr. Vijay Silan, Associate Professor of Community Medicine Dept of Bhagat Phool Singh GMC for Women, Sonipat, Dr. Sunaina Hooda, Assistant Professor of Pathology Dept of BPS Government Medical College, Sonipat and Sh. Aujender Singh, Deputy Secretary of NMC.

Mental Health Concerns and NMC Actions: 

Despite efforts made by the government, the issue of mental health of medical students remained unaddressed over the years. Back in 2022, NMC took note of the issue and showing deep concern for the mental health and well-being of PG medicos, NMC had directed all the medical colleges and institutions providing PG medical training to address the issues faced by the PG medicos.

NMC had also asked the medical colleges to set up a committee to look into the complaints/grievances including anonymous complaints/grievances which may be submitted by the PG students either through mail or received in a drop box specially placed for this purpose.

Recently, taking another step to ensure good mental health of medical students, NMC wrote to the Principal Secretary of Health and Medical Education of all States and Union Territories, asking them to review the seat leaving bond policy, and preferably do away with the same.

The direction came after the National Medical Commission's anti-ragging committee held a meeting on 9th January 2024 to address the mental health concerns of PG medical students and recommended the State/UT to review the seat leaving policy in medical colleges and do away the same. As an alternative, they recommended that the States may consider debarring the students for admission in their States for the next one year.

Meanwhile, speaking to Medical Dialogues on the matter and the NMC decision of setting up a National Task Force, RTI Activist Dr. Vivek Pandey insisted on practical rather than theoretical approaches. "Establishing a national task force to investigate the alarming rate of suicides among medical students is a commendable initiative by the NMC. However, to truly effect change, we must prioritize the formulation of policies at the college level that directly address the underlying issues faced by students. Without tackling these core issues within colleges, meaningful progress will remain elusive," he said.

To view the NMC Order regarding National Task Force, click on the link below:

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/national-task-force-233129.pdf

Also Read: Breaking News: NMC Asks States to do Away with Seat leaving Bond