NMC Releases Draft Graduate Medical Education Regulations 2023, Invites Comments

New Delhi: Introducing changes in the undergraduate medical education system, the apex medical regulator National Medical Commission has now released the draft Graduate Medical Education Regulations of Undergraduate Medical Education Board, 2023.

NMC has introduced the draft on the public domain on February 27, 2023, and it has also invited comments from the public and stakeholders in this regard and asked them to share the comments within 30 days.

The public notice issued in this regard stated, "NMC proposes to make the regulation mentioned above in the exercise of powers vested with NMC under sub-Section (2) of Section 57 read with sub-Section (1) of Section 24 of NMC Act, 2019 (30 of 2019). A draft regulation in this regard is being shared for public comment."

"It is requested to share comments on the draft regulations at the following email lD- comments.ugregulations@nmc.org.in in MS Word (.docx) format or machine-readable PDF Format within 30 days of publication of this notice with a subject tagline "Comments on draft regulations regarding National Medical Commission (Graduate Medical Education) Regulations of Undergraduate Medical Education Board, 2023"," further mentioned the NMC notice.

These new regulations have addressed the skills expected of a scholar graduating UG Medical Education, the duties of medical universities to partner with NMC, maintenance of proper records by the universities and institutes, development of strategies for optimal utilization of evolving technology etc.

Apart from this, these draft regulations have also discussed about the admission, counselling and migration process involving the UG medical admission including the conduct of NEET UG, the eligibility criteria, break of tie-in marks of NEET UG, common counselling, and student migration.

Besides, the minimum standards of requirements for medical education, competency based dynamic curriculum at undergraduate level, training period and maximum duration of UG medical students, choice-based credit courses, mandatory internship, faculty development programme, student welfare- all these issues have also been discussed in these new draft regulations.

Duties of Universities: 

These regulations have specified about the duties of medical universities to partner with the National Medical Commission to-

a. Develop an appropriate curriculum to provide high-quality and affordable undergraduate medical education to the student to make him a complete bachelor in medicine and surgical fields.

b. To provide training in clinical and practical skills along with theoretical knowledge, an emphasis upon attitude, ethics and communication skills to ensure im parting competency-based medical education.

c. Encourage students towards self-directed learning, which will impart an adequate basic knowledge of human health, including indigenous systems of healthcare in lndia; Yoga and spiritual aspects are inculcated during their training to develop harmony, and peace, relieve stress and alleviate depression amongst students.

d. Encourage students to take up skill training in the subjects and areas of their choice, which shall stimulate their logical and scientific thinking, and problem solving at the community level and individual levels.

e. Encourage the students to achieve and maintain the highest ethical standards in training and profession.

f. Provide periodic and transparent assessment of medical education being imparted by medical institutions across the nation to meet with highest global standards.

g. lnspire confidence in the students to handle emergencies and calamities at all levels.

"Without prejudice to the above, the concerned University/ institution shall ensure that proper records of the work shall be maintained so that they form the basis of objective, efficient and transparent internal assessment of students. provided further that, these maintained and well-classified documents shall be made available for consultation at all times, particularly for the purposes of assessment of the medical college either by the concerned University or NMC," further mentioned the draft.

"It shall be the constant endeavor of the concerned University/ Institution to constantly develop strategies for optimal utilization of evolving technology by the students, faculty and medical education department while training the students," it further added.

Admission, Counselling and Migration:

In the draft regulations, NMC has indicated that it may conduct the NEET UG examination or designate any other agency or authority for conducing the test. Referring to the possibility of assigning multiple agencies the task of conducting the NEET UG entrance, NMC mentioned, "The National Medical Commission may designate multiple agencies or authorities to conduct NEET-UG if such deployment suits the purpose."

"The Under Graduate Medical Education Board shall determine the language, manner and modalities etc., of conducting the NEET-UG by way of Notification. Provided that the Under Graduate Medical Education Board shall notify with reasonable lead time when it decides to change its policies about the conduct of NEET-UG so that aspiring students are not put to a detriment," stated the draft.

Apart from this, the draft has also discussed in detail about the eligibility criteria for pursuing graduate medical education, the eligibility criteria for appearing in NEET UG, and the process of settling tie scores in NEET UG.

Specifying that there shall be a common counselling for admission to graduate medical courses, the draft also stated that the counselling shall be based on the seat matrix provided by National Medical Commission, Provided the common counselling may have multiple rounds as necessary.

As per the draft, UGMEB shall publish the guidelines for common counselling, and the designated authority under section 17 below shall conduct the common counselling in conformity with such published guidelines.

In case of the all India quota seats of the contributing states, the designated authority appointed by the Government shall conduct the common counselling, NMC clarified.

Strictly barring any student from taking admission in any other way than counselling, NMC mentioned, "No medical institute shall admit any candidate to the graduate course in contravention of these regulations. The medical institution granting admission to any student in contravention of these Regulations shall be liable to be fined Rupees 50 lakh per seat for the first time and, for the second time of non-compliance, Rupees one Crore per seat."

"For any subsequent non-compliance or continued contravention, the medical institution shall be barred from granting admission to students from the next academic year. Students shall be discharged from the medical college, and double the seats shall be reduced for one or more years," it added.

NMC has also addressed the issue of student migration and mentioned, "No student designated to a medical institution, notwithstanding anything stated in these Regulations, shall seek migration to any other medical institution after the first academic year of admission. Migration of students from one medical college to another shall be granted per the guidelines of UGMEB of NMC, only in exceptional cases to the most deserving among the applicants for good and sufficient reasons and not on routine grounds. Migration shall be from a government medical college to a government medical college and from a non-government medical college to a non-government medical college only. No mutual exchange shall be permitted."

Minimum standards of requirements for medical education: 

The draft clarifies that the medical institutes shall follow the guidelines for minimum standards of requirements (MSR) undergraduate medical education prescribed by the UGMEB of NMC from time to time for a medical college/institution approved for admissions of the sanctioned intake of MBBS students annually.

"The minimum requirements of accommodation in the college and its associated teaching hospitals, staff (teaching and technical) and equipment in the college departments and hospitals shall be as per the MSR guidelines. These shall include adequate infrastructure, including housing for the students, and adequate and appropriately qualified teachers at different levels in all the required departments proportionate to the annual intake of the students. For comprehensive training, adequate clinical material in the hospital is necessary. This shall also include a variety of clinical conditions of varying intensity from multiple departments," it further mentioned.

Competency-based Dynamic Curriculum at Undergraduate Level: 

As per the draft, UGMEB shall publish the model curriculum and the outcome objectives of the same from time to time on the NMC website, which shall form the base for the development of a detailed medical curriculum by the concerned Universities, along with the appropriate methodology to impart meaningful education.

"The evolution of medical education aims to make it more learner-centric (rather than academic), patient-centric, gender-sensitive, outcome-oriented and environment appropriate. The result is an outcome-driven curriculum which conforms to global trends. Emphasis is made on aligning and integrating subjects horizontally and vertically while respecting the strengths and necessity of subject-based instruction and assessment. This has necessitated a deviation from using "broad competencies"; instead, the reports have written end-of-phase subject (sub) competencies. These ', sub-competencies" can be mapped to the global competencies in the Graduate Medical Education Regulations," it mentioned at this outset.

"The importance of ethical values, responsiveness to the patient's needs and acquisition of communication skills is underscored by providing dedicated curriculum time in the form of a longitudinal program based on Attitude, Ethics and Communication (AETCOM) competencies. Great emphasis has been placed on collaborative and interdisciplinary teamwork, professionalism, altruism and respect in professional relationships with due sensitivity to differences in thought, social and economic position and gender," added the draft.

Apart from these, NMC has also discussed about the training period and maximum duration and mentioned that the guidelines in this regard shall be published by the UGMEB. It has also clarified that the students shall not be allowed more than four attempts to clear the first year examination.

"Provided under no circumstances the student shall be allowed more than four attempts for the first year, and no student shall be allowed to continue the undergraduate medical course after nine (09) years from the date of admission into the course," it mentioned.

The Draft also specified about the Choice-based credit courses, the Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship as per the CRMI Regulations 2021.

Faculty Development Program: 

NMC has also mentioned in the draft that the new curriculum training requires the teaching faculty to understand and apply the concepts of group dynamics in teaching students, team building exercises, and small group teachings, encourage the students towards self-directed learning and enhance their skills to become team leaders at the primary health care level. These training skills shall be imparted through various programmes as described in the guidelines to be notified occasionally.

Student Welfare: 

Referring to the issue of Student Welfare, NMC mentioned in the draft, "Student welfare is central to a good learning atmosphere. The issues related to ragging disrupt students' well-being. Hence, students must abide by the Prevention and Prohibition of Ragging in Medical Colleges and institutions Regulations, 2021. There shall be an elected student association and representation of students in decision-making by the medical college/ institution affecting student welfare."

To view the notice, click on the link below -

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/uemeb-regulations-203379.pdf

Also Read:Proposed: NMC to conduct NEET UG exam