NMC relaxation: Now PG medical students can appear for exams without poster presentation

As per the NMC advisory dated 23.12.2021, now the PG medical students would be eligible to appear for their PG medical degree examinations even in the absence of paper or poster presentations.

However, this benefit has been provided for the students of batch 2019-2020 only, NMC has clarified in its advisory.

Such a decision has been taken by NMC Post Graduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) after receiving several requests from the students.

Also Read: FMGE Eligibility Certificate: NMC releases advisory for candidates, gives deadline for rectifying deficiency in documents

"The National Medical Commission has received several request of Post Graduate students of 2019-20 batch requesting for relaxation in poster presentation, to read one paper at National/State Conference and to present one research paper," NMC mentioned in the advisory.

As per the Sub-clause 13.9 of the Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations, "A postgraduate student of a Postgraduate degree course in broad specialities/super specialities would be required to present one poster presentation, to read one paper at a national/state conference and to present one research paper which should be published/accepted for publication/sent for publication during the period of his Postgraduate studies so as to make him eligible to appear at the Postgraduate degree examination."

However, after receiving requests from students Dr Vijay Oza, a Member of the PGMEB mentioned in the recent advisory, "In view of the COVID 19 pandemic, the Postgraduate Medical Education Board in its Meeting dated 25/10/2021 has decided to relax the said portion of the regulation and allow the postgraduate students of batch 2019-20 only, in broad specialities/super specialities to be eligible to appear for their Postgraduate degree examinations even if they have not made a poster presentation, read a paper at a conference or submitted a research paper for publication."

Speaking to Medical Dialogues regarding the matter Dr Rohan Krishnan, President of Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) said, "There were many students who were seeking reliefs and they had reached out to us as well. We had also advised the students to write directly to the NMC regarding the issue. Since the pandemic, it is being seen that the students were not being able to participate in the conferences which were held at various, for which the students needed to travel."

"Secondly, they were overburdened with the workload of COVID and overwhelmed because of the COVID duties and ICU duties. Most of the senior postgraduate students were diverted to COVID isolation wards, COVID ICU care, and these batches were the first frontline warriors who were handling the situation. So I think this is a very welcoming move indeed," he added.

To view the advisory, click on the link below.