MBBS course: National Medical Commission calls for Re-opening of Medical Colleges before December 1, proposes schedule for medical training

New Delhi: Medical Colleges across the country may soon their doors to MBBS students, as the National Medical Commission as well as the central government have recently issued an advisory to this effect. The move comes in light of the delay in medical teaching in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the repercussions on the medical education sector as well as the availability of doctors in the future. 

The apex medical regulator, NMC recently recommended that the medical colleges may re-open on or before 1st December 2020. This came after the commission considered the representations from students and the Medical Colleges for re-opening of medical colleges for undergraduate MBBS students as the Colleges are closed for UG classroom teaching, tutorials / practical classes /laboratory, and clinical training due to the COVID 19 pandemic. In the light of the same, the council on the grounds of recommending the opening of medical colleges, noted the following

1. The current batch of interns (2020) have not completed their required clinical training and unless the same is completed, they would not be eligible for appearing for the PG-NEET exam.

2. The PG-NEET exam for the academic year 2021-22 has been delayed, as the eligible candidates ( interns ) will be completing their training late . Their training is required to be completed at the earliest so that the PG NEET exam for the Academic year 2021-22 can be held in accordingly.

3. Delay in resuming the training, would have a cascading effect on the training of next PG and Super-specialty courses in the coming years.

4. The academic session for the fresh MBBS students' for the AY 2020-21 has already been delayed by 4 months and as the UG counselling has started it is imperative that the new MBBS session should also be initiated at the earliest.

5. Further, it was noted that the students today (would-be doctors tomorrow ) should also be familiar with the inherent threats and opportunities in health care system which they would eventually handle themselves . It should not become a missed opportunity for medical students to learn the skills of epidemic management as a public health professional.

6. Delaying re-opening of medical colleges has the potential of a null year for the academic year 2021-22 which could result in non-availability of about 80,000 doctors five years later.

After carefully considering all factors, the Commission recommended the following:

1. Medical colleges across the country must re-open on or before 1st December 2020 for the MBBS students already pursuing their course.

2. The delayed new academic session for 2020-21 should commence from 1st February 2021.

3. The new PG session for the academic year 2020-21 should begin from at least 1st July 2021 and therefore the PG-NEET exam for the AY 2021-22 would need to be scheduled around March-April 2021.

4. The Commission also noted that hospitals attached to teaching hospitals have been converted to complete COVID hospitals in several states. However, with the opening of the medical colleges, and to facilitate UG training, all medical college affiliated hospitals would need to have sufficient number of beds for non-COVID patients and hence facilities for both outpatient and inpatient management for non-COVID patients must be re-started, if not already done.

The NMC further requested the central govt regarding the same following which the Union Health Ministry obtained concurrence from the Ministry of Home Affairs for the re-opening of Medical Colleges in the States and UTs. The Ministry has now asked the States/UTs to take the necessary steps to open the medical colleges on or before 1st December 2020 while also making available non-COVID beds in the affiliated medical college hospitals to facilitate undergraduate medical training. The Colleges shall abide with the COVID 19 reopening guidelines issued by the Competent authorities in CentraliState/UT Govts

The Cente also asked the states to ensure that all the SOPs/guidelines with respect to social distancing and prevention of the spread of epidemic issued by Central/State/UT Governments will be followed scrupulously by all the colleges.

The NMC has also put forward a proposed schedule of medical training commencing on or before I December 2020 as approved by the National Medical Commission which is annexed in the below notice.

To view the official notice, click on the following link:

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/pdf_upload-142879.pdf