NMC Tightens Rules on Interstate Posting for MD/MS Students under District Residency Programme, Approvals Now Mandatory

New Delhi: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has reinforced stricter regulations for the mandatory District Residency Programme (DRP), clarifying that interstate postings should be rare and would require prior approval from the Postgraduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB).

Highlighting that there are wide options for posting MD/MS students for the mandatory District Residency Programme (DRP) in all specialities in any State, the Postgraduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) of the National Medical Commission (NMC) has clarified that the interstate posting for this purpose should be "rare and only in extraordinary circumstances".

Further, the PG board of Apex Medical Commission has clarified that if any State feels such a requirement of requesting other States for interstate posting, "prior approval of PGMEB of NMC may be obtained before proceedings further".

The Commission issued such a directive after observing that No Objection Certificates (NOCs) were being issued by Deans/Principals and Directorates of Medical Education without fulfilling the rules, which state that if PG residents from a State/UT cannot be absorbed within their respective State/UT, they may be posted to another State/UT, "subject to mutual agreement between the respective Governments and with the approval of NMC's Post-Graduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB)."

While answering the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), NMC clarified this requirement through a Public Notice dated 10.04.2024. However, the NMC Board observed that "the No Objection Certificates (NOCs) are issued by Deans/Principals and Directorates of Medical Education without fulfilling the above prescribed norms."

Accordingly, writing to the Directorate of Medical Education/State Nodal Officer of DRP of all States, and the Director/Dean/Principal of all Medical Colleges/Institutions imparting PG courses, the NMC PG Board directed, "With this, all concerned are informed to strictly follow the prescribed procedure mentioned above in compliance with the PGMER-2023 Regulations."

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The Post-Graduate students pursuing MD/MS in broad specialties in all medical colleges/institutions under the purview of the National Medical Commission (NMC) are required to undergo a compulsory residential rotation of three months in District Hospitals/District Health System as a part of the course curriculum, in accordance with the Post-Graduate Medical Education Regulations (PGMER-2023), Section 5.2 (V).

Referring to this, the PGMEB clarified in the communication dated 30.01.2025 that the definition of District Hospital and Definition of District Health System is as per Section 5.2 III and IV.

As per the PGMER 2023, the Definition of a District Hospital states, "For the purpose of this programme, a District Hospital shall be a functional public sector/government-funded hospital of not less than 50 beds with facilities/staff for the designated specialties at that level/facility. Any post-graduate medical institution or a super-speciality hospital will not be considered as district hospital."

Similarly, the Definition of District Health System, as specified under the Regulations, mentions, "For the purpose of this programme, the District Health System shall include all public sector/government-funded hospitals and facilities (including community health centres, primary health centres, sub-health centres, urban health centres, etc.), as well as community outreach system in a district. This would also include district system engaged in running respective public health services including the implementation of national and state public health programmes."

Referring to the definition, the NMC PG Board mentioned in the communication dated 30.01.2025, "The Post-Graduate students of specialities where direct patient care is not involved will be trained by District Health System/ District Hospital teams within the available avenues in coordination with the District Health Officer/Chief Medical Officer. They would be trained in and contribute to the diagnostic/laboratory services, pharmacy services, forensic services, general clinical duties, managerial roles, public health programmes etc., as applicable."

"They may also be posted in research units / facilities, laboratories and field sites of the Indian Council of Medical Research and other National Research Organizations. Thus, there are wide options for posting students for the purpose in all specialties in any State. Hence, the requirement of requesting other State should be rare and only in extraordinary circumstances. If any State feels such requirement, prior approval of PGMEB of NMC may be obtained before proceeding further," it added.

The NMC Secretary Prof. (Dr) B Srinivas also wrote to the State/UT officials and the Heads of the Medical Institutes in this regard. Referring to the communication by PG Board, the NMC Secretary mentioned on 13.02.2025, "Please find enclosed letter no. NMC/23(1)25/2021/Med dated 30 th January, 2025 issued by the Post Graduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) on the subject mentioned above. All concerned stakeholders are requested to kindly take note of the same."

To view the NMC communication, click on the link below:

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/nmc-interstate-posting-of-post-graduate-medical-students-under-the-district-residency-programme-drp-274233.pdf

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