NMC's new Faculty norms get backlash from Maharashtra Medical Teachers

Relaxing the existing norms for appointing non-medical faculty in medical colleges, NMC has specified in these new regulations that non-MBBS holders can teach in Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology, Pharmacology, and Microbiology Departments in medical colleges if they possess a Master of Science or Doctor of Philosophy Degree in the respective fields of Medical Anatomy, Medical Biochemistry, Medical Physiology, Medical Pharmacology, and Medical Microbiology.

Medical MSc Degree holders were allowed to teach in Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology, Microbiology and Pharmacology departments of medical colleges until 2020. Back then, the intake of Medical MSc and PhD teachers was allowed up to 30% of capacity per subject (50% in biochemistry).

However, in October 2020, NMC reduced the permissible percentage of Medical MSc/PhD faculty in subjects like Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Physiology from 30% to 15%, while in Microbiology and Pharmacology, NMC decreased it to zero percent.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that releasing the "Guidelines for Undergraduate Courses under Establishment of New Medical Institutions,l Starting of New Medical Courses, Increase of Seats for Existing Courses & Assessment and Rating Regulations, 2023", NMC had clarified that only 15% of the total number of posts in the Anatomy, Physiology, and Biochemistry departments could be filled by non-medical teachers. The National M.Sc Medical Teachers' Association (NMMTA) protested against the NMC's decision for a long time.

On July 2, 2025, NMC released an amendment to the UG-MSR 2023 and clarified that Medical MSc and PhD holders would now be allowed in Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Pharmacology departments to the extent of 30% of the total number of posts in the department, subject to the non-availability of medical teachers.

NMC has also allowed non-teaching Consultants or Specialists or Medical Officers, possessing a postgraduate medical degree with ten years of experience in at least a 220-bedded Government hospital, shall be eligible to become Associate Professor of that broad specialty. Similarly, non-teacging consultants or specialists or medical officers, possessing postgraduate medical degree with at least two years of experience in a Government hospital having at least 220 beds have been made eligible to become Assistant Professors.

However, Maharashtra State Medical Teacher's Association has opposed NMC's decision in this regard. "Instead of addressing problems faced by teachers and improving the facilities for medical teachers which will attract more teachers which will reduce shortage of faculties, NMC is searching shortcuts which will literally affect adversely overall medical education in country," the association mentioned in the letter addressed to the Apex Medical Commission.

"This decision undermines the core values of medical education by allowing personnel without a recognized medical degree (MBBS/MD) to teach undergraduate medical students. While we understand the need to address faculty shortages, but compromising the quality and integrity of medical education is not a solution to it," it added.

"Permitting non-medical faculty/Non-teaching faculties, dilutes the standard of medical education and may have serious implications for future healthcare quality. We seek your urgent intervention to safeguard the standards of medical education an rotect the rights of students. faculty n anent at large," the letter further mentioned.

Meanwhile, sharing a copy of the letter sent by Maharashtra medical teachers, the MSc Medicine Association in an X post said, "While a section of Doctors' community (through various associations such as @AIPCMA a non-clinical doctors association), who are well aware of who these MSc/PhD teachers are, with just hate, are calling for the disqualification of the teachers, another notorious group in the name of MSc Medical Teachers Association has been spreading misinformation and misleading the Doctors community and this Nation for quite a long time now."

"MSc/PhD with regard to teachers in Medical Colleges are not science qualifications but Medical Qualifications acquired from MCI/NMC Recognized Medical Institutions. The nomenclature originally given in non-clinical subjects (also called basic medical sciences) for MBBS graduates was MSc. However, since non-MBBS graduates were also given opportunity to get admission in the non-clinical departments due to extreme shortage of MBBS MSc teachers, MCI in its regulations in 1993 recommended the institutions to adopt different PG degree nomenclatures for MBBS and non-MBBS graduates," clarified the association.

It explained that while MBBS graduates are recommended to be awarded with MD degree, MSc nomenclature retained to award Postgraduate degree for non-MBBS graduates.

"MSc is not a non-medical or science degree. And the case is certainly not comparable with the world that recruits science graduates with MSc or PhD in various roles in Medical Education. In this case, India is probably more advanced than any other developed nation. Medical Institutions in India have been producing the Medical Teachers in non-clinical departments by giving training to non-MBBS graduates alongside MBBS graduates. MSc Medical Postgraduates (apart from MBBS graduates) include graduates from BDS, BHMS, BAMS, BPT, B Pharmacy, BSc Nursing, BSc Life Science etc. backgrounds. MSc Medical Postgraduates undergo training for a year in Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry (to bridge the gap of coming from non-MBBS background) like an MBBS undergraduate undergoes and then move on to their specialization for another 2 years of training in the concerned departments in Medical Colleges," read the X post.

"Medical Education in India is not borrowing teachers from science unlike western countries. If anyone has any problem with recruitment of non-MBBS Medical Postgraduates as teachers, firstly all the Medical Institutions (approximately 60 plus Medical Institutions are conducting MSc Medical Postgraduate courses including AIIMS JIPMER PGIMER) need to stop producing MSc Medical Postgraduates and people opposing our appointments need to demand for the same instead of targeting us who are graduated from Medical Institutions holding Medical Degrees in Modern Medicine by robbing our lives and dignity by maligning our qualifications," it further added.

Moreover, the National MSc. Medical Teachers' Association highlighted in an X post that faculty with medical MSc. or Ph.D qualifications in non-clinical subjects such as Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, and Microbiology have been integral to India's medical education system since the 1960s.

"This is neither a new development nor unique to India. In fact, many countries, including the United States, follow a similar model—where the majority of educators in non-clinical disciplines come from a science background, often holding Ph.D. degrees. Why should India be any different?" questioned the association, while appealing to the broader medical community to stop viewing or treating the Medical MSc/PhD holders as adversaries or inferiors.

"Let both categories of teachers complement one another and work collaboratively for the betterment of medical education in the country," said NMMTA.

Also Read: NMC Allows 30 percent faculty posts in 5 depts to be filled by Medical MSc, PhD degree holders