MSR 2020 versus MSR 2023: Faculty requirements for medical colleges have not doubled, NMC officials give clarification

New Delhi: The faculty requirement for opening up a new medical college has gone up, but it has not been doubled, the National Medical Commission (NMC) officials recently clarified, rebutting the claims of many in the medical profession that the Minimum Standard Requirements (MSR) 2023 regulations are much harsher for running medical colleges and adding to the current faculty crisis.

"The faculty requirement for running a medical college has increased by a little bit in the new MSR, but it has been done in the interest of better quality of medical education," NMC officials told the Medical Dialogues team, adding that the majority of the increase can be seen in the requirement of tutor/demonstrators/ SRs to propagate small group teaching.

In the recently held press conference, the NMC officials informed the media persons about the various changes in the Minimum Standard Requirements from the erstwhile MSR 2020 to the newly released MSR 2023 for undergraduate medical courses.

The Commission explained that the new MSR 2023 further relaxes the requirements for setting up medical colleges in terms of requirement of beds, departments, and faculty positions.

Apart from this, under this new MSR, several departments such as Respiratory Medicine, Emergency Medicine and PMR, which were previously mandatory for the medical colleges, have been reduced.

Further, the 2 years waiting period for hospital has been waived off and now even the smaller hospitals having 220 bed capacity can start a medical college for 50 MBBS students, informed the Commission.

On the issue of faculty, while speaking to Medical Dialogues team the NMC officials explained that while in MSR 2020 there was no provision to start a medical college with 50 MBBS seats, it is allowed under MSR 2023 and for this, the medical college must have 59 faculties.

Sharing the numbers in detail, Dr Arun Vanikar, President, UGMEB, NMC elaborated that In case of 100 MBBS seats, MSR 2020 made it mandatory for the medical college to have 90 faculties, but under MSR 2023, only 85 faculties are required. Similarly, the number of required faculties have been reduced for 150 MBBS seats as well. Previously, under MSR 2020, 116 faculties were required for 150 MBBS seats. However, MSR 2023 specifies that 114 faculties are required for the same.

The requirement of faculties remain the same in case of 200 MBBS seats. Both MSR 2020 and MSR 2023 specifies that 142 faculties are required in a medical college with an intake capacity for 200 MBBS seats. Meanwhile, in case of 250 MBBS seats, the requirement of 159 faculties under MSR 2020 has been increased to 168 faculties under MSR 2023.

At the same time, the requirements of Tutor/Demonstrator/SR have increased under MSR 2023, when compared to MSR 2020. In case of 50 MBBS seats, 38 Tutor/Demonstrator/SRs are required under MSR 2023.

"This has been done to propagate small group teaching", Dr Vanikar told Medical Dialogues Team 

Under MSR 2020, for 100 MBBS seats, the requirement of Tutor/Demonstrator/SR was 60, for 150 MBBS seats the requirement was 76, for 200 MBBS seats it was 90 and for 250 MBBS seats, 95 Tutor/Demonstrators/SRs was required. 

The requirement has increased under the new MSR 2023. NMC informed that for 100 MBBS seats now the requirement of Tutor/Demonstrator/SR is 65, for 150 MBBS seats 90 Tutor/Demonstrators/SRs are required, for 200 MBBS seats the requirement is 113 and for 250 MBBS seats, 123 Tutor/Demonstrator/SRs are required.

Further explaining the differences between MSR 2020 and MSR 2023, the NMC officials highlighted that the land requirement for college, which was 20 acres gen/ 10 acres metropolis under MSR 2020, has been removed under the new MSR 2023, making it easy to start a college. As opposed to the previous requirement of 23 subjects under MSR 2020, now only 20 subjects are required under the new rules.

Previously, under MSR 2020, permission used to be given for 100/150/250 MBBS seats. However, now permission is granted even for 50 MBBS seats, the Commission highlighted. While phase-wise increase was allowed under the erstwhile MSR 2020 rules, it is now allowed under the new MSR 2023, where availability is from day 1.

The Commission further pointed out that the concept of permitted vs recognised has been removed under MSR 2023, as per which permitted means recognised. Previously, the student practical training lab was separate for each department. However, under the new MSR 2023, it may be shared. Further, the autopsy facility in Forensic M & T was not allowed in non-govt institutions under MSR 2020. However, permission has been granted to non-govt institutes in this regard under the new MSR 2023.

Although biometric attendance was mandatory under MSR 2020, it was not implemented before, the head counting method used to be opted during the assessment, and 90% attendance was required at assessment. However, under MSR 2023, AEBAS has been implemented. Therefore, the dignity of doctors is maintained and 75% attendance average is required.

Previously, AEBAS for the students was not required under MSR 2020. However, it has been made mandatory under MSR 2023. OPD, IP etc was physical under MSR 2020, but it is now AI based under MSR 2023. NMC further pointed out that the Family adoption program was absent under the previous regulations. However, it has not been mandated for ECE under MSR 2023 and it is helping provide healthcare awareness to the last man of society.

Faculty development was partly handled by private players under MSR 2020, but now under the new MSR 2023 rules, it has been propped up, made well structured and handled by NMC. 

There is a significant difference between the MSR 2020 and MSR 2023 in terms of exams passing criteria as well. Previously 50% marks in theory/practical, 50% aggregate was required and there was provisions of 5 grace marks. However, under the new rules, 40% minimum marks is required in theory & practical each and 50% aggregate. However, there is no provision of grace marks.

Previously, there were 4 examiners for 100 students and additional 1 examiner/ 25 additional students. External examiners were previously appointed from out of the University. However, under the MSR 2023, every student is examiner by 4 examiners. Now, there are 50% internal and 50% external examiners, and external examiners are appointed out of college.

Under MSR 2020, NMC-designated assessors were in charge of the assessment. However, under the new rules, NMC has allowed self assessment by video clippings and sworn-in affidavits.

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