Colleges Free to Prescribe Higher Qualification, Recruit Faculties Only with Medical Qualifications, says NMC

New Delhi: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has clarified that medical colleges are "free to prescribe higher qualification which includes recruiting only those with medical qualification" while appointing for the position of Tutors/Demonstrators.

NMC Postgraduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) issued this clarification in response to a grievance filed by the non-medical teachers, who highlighted the violation of NMC Teachers Eligibility Qualifications (TEQ) 2022 guidelines by an Agra-based medical college while recruiting Tutors/Demonstrators.

The concerned, Sarojini Naidu Medical College Agra issued a recruitment notification on August 9, 2024 for Tutors/Demonstrators whereby it mentioned the eligible qualifications as 1. MBBS for Clinical Departments, 2. MBBS/MSc Medical PG with PhD for non-Clinical Departments. It also specified that those who have already worked as Tutor/Demonstrator in any other institution having experience of 3 years will not be considered

Meanwhile, as per NMC Teacher Eligibility Qualifications 2022, MD Medical Postgraduates are appointed as Senior Residents, MSc Medical postgraduates are Tutors, pointed out The MSc Medicine Association, adding that "it is observed that all the medical institutions across the country are wrongfully recruiting MBBS graduates for Tutor/Demonstrator positions while demanding PhD for MSc Medical Postgraduates."

Highlighting their grievance in this regard, the association wrote to the Union Health Minister Shri J P Nadda and referred to the "malpractices practiced by the appointing authorities to restrict and to deny opportunities for MSc Medical Postgraduates while medical education all over the state continues to suffer due to lack of sufficient teaching faculties."

"NMC TEQ 2022 Regulations prescribe qualifications for teaching appointments in medical colleges. As per the regulations, MSc Medical Postgraduates with Medical PhDs are eligible for Assistant Professor and beyond. MSc Medical Postgraduates without a PhD are eligible to be appointed as a Tutor. The recruitment notification as enclosed with this grievance denies opportunities for MSc Medical Postgraduates for Tutor position while prescribing MBBS qualifications which is not prescribed as per NMC TEQ 2022 regulations," it mentioned in the letter.

"While in view of the discriminatory policy and regulations adopted by the NMC against MSc Medical Postgraduates, 1000s of the professionals are already suffering due to lack of rightful employment opportunities across the nation, the respective authorities of various states and institutions are denying opportunities by adopting illegal or wrongful practices leading to loss of livelihood opportunities," the association further added.

However, in response to the grievance raised by TMMA, the PG Board of NMC informed the Ministry that "NMC has only prescribed the minimum qualification for the faculty posts in medical colleges. Concerned Government/ employer are free to prescribe higher qualification which includes recruiting only those with medical qualification."

Referring to this, the association mentioned in an X (formerly Twitter) post, "When the whole system is corrupt and crooked including Medical Graduates lobby and a certain section of MSc Medical Postgraduates, their associations (who only cared about themselves and went to courts for prospective application of the MSR 2023 Regulations), what more one may be able to do in this? Who cares whether MSc Medical Postgraduates who are promoted up to Assistant Professor with substantial experience are kept out! Who cares if fresh MSc Medical Postgraduates may also have to do a PhD only to see themselves in a Demonstrator position with no further career growth or livelihood opportunities! Who cares about the younger generations of MSc Medical Postgraduates? Where do MSc Medical Postgraduates without a PhD go?"

Also Read: Non-Medical Teachers Meet Health Minister Nadda, Urge to Address 'unfair disqualification' due to NMC Regulations