QCI to rate and assess medical colleges for NMC, charge Rs 1 lakh per college

New Delhi: Following the announcement that medical colleges will have to undergo assessment for rating, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has now published its agreement with the Quality Council of India (QCI) on its portal for everyone to check out.  Among the several objectives specified in the MoU, the roles and responsibilities of QCI in the assessment and rating of medical colleges have been clearly mentioned in the document.

According to the MoU, the Council will develop and maintain a comprehensive framework for the assessment and rating of medical colleges. It will also have the responsibility of developing, customizing, and maintaining the IT platform, conducting assessments, evaluations, on-site visits to medical colleges etc.

Another job of QCI shall be to appoint qualified assessors and evaluators for assessing and rating medical colleges. It will also train the assessors regarding the criteria of assessment and usage of IT platforms and provide technical support.

A team of experts appointed by QCI shall evaluate the medical colleges on the basis of established standards and guidelines and the QCI shall carry out the assessment and rating process exclusively for colleges that have obtained permission from MARB or have had their first batch graduated, clarified the MoU.

Payment of honorarium to assessors, their travel and stay expenses, preparation of assessment reports and populating them on the IT platform, etc shall also be taken care of by QCI.

The Memorandum of Understanding between the NMC and QCI also addressed in detail about the process of payment to QCI for providing its services for assessment and rating of medical colleges. According to the document, QCI shall charge a subsidized amount i.e. Rs 1 lakh per assessment per college for the services including assessors, honorarium, arrangement of travel, stay, etc. of assessors, physical assessment, and IT platform.

Also Read: NMC Releases Final Establishment of Medical Institutions, Assessment and Rating Regulations 2023, Details

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that on July 5, 2023, the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) of NMC had signed a MoU with QCI for the purpose of assessment of rating medical colleges. The MoU was signed by the President of MARB Dr. BN Gangadhar and Dr. Varinder Kanwar, the CEO of QCI.

NMC Medical Assessment and Rating Board is responsible for carrying out inspections for granting permission for establishment of new Medical College, increase of MBBS/PG/Super-speciality seats, renewal of permission for existing medical colleges.

"QCI provides a mechanism for independent third-party assessment of products, services and it aims to promote quality through national accreditation of testing, inspection and certification bodies which are internationally recognized," stated a release by Dr. Yogender Malik, a Member of the NMC Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) and head of the Publication Division of NMC.

Now, the MoU between NMC MARB and QCI has been uploaded on the NMC Portal. It specifies in detail about the description of the parties i.e. QCI and MARB, the Preamble, aims and objectives of the MoU, scope of collaboration, roles and responsibilities of QCI and MARB, financial obligations, governance etc.

It also addresses the issue of confidentiality, general areas of cooperation, term and termination, amendment and modification, governing law and dispute resolution, force majeure event, non-exclusivity, entire agreement etc.

The QCI is responsible for assessing the standards of hospitals across the country and rating them accordingly. However, with the MoU being signed with the NMC's  Medical Assessment of Rating Board (MARB), an autonomous board of the National Medical Commission responsible for assessing and rating medical institutions in accordance with established standards and regulations, the QCI has now been engaged by the NMC for rating medical colleges as well.

Describing the parties signing the MoU, the document mentioned that the Memorandum of Understanding was signed on the 5th day of July 2023 by the parties- the Quality Council of India (QCI) and Medical Assessment of Rating Board (MARB).

Referring to QCI, the MoU mentioned:

"National Accreditation Board for Education and Training (NABET), a constituent Board of QCI will be the operating arm of QCI for execution of this MoU," it further added.

It plays a vital role in ensuring the quality and compliance of medical education and healthcare facilities. MARB determines the assessment procedures, conducts inspections, and may engage third-party agencies if necessary. It grants permissions for the establishment of new medical institutions and monitors their compliance with regulations. MARB also conducts assessments, either independently or through empaneled rating agencies, to evaluate and rate medical institutions regularly. The assessment and ratings are made available to the public, promoting transparency and accountability. Additionally, MARB has the authority to take corrective measures against medical institutions that fail to meet the prescribed standards, including issuing warnings, imposing penalties, and others. Through its functions, MARB contributes to the improvement and maintenance of quality medical education and healthcare standards, the MoU specified.

"Both MARB and QCI recognize the need for robust assessments and ratings of medical colleges to ensure quality education and promote excellence in the medical profession. MARB and QCI intend to collaborate and establish a framework for conducting assessments and ratings of medical colleges based on mutually agreed standards and guidelines," stated the MoU.

The document mentioned that in accordance with the relevant rules of MARB and QCI, both organizations have agreed to sign an MoU with the aim of working together in following areas leading to 'Quality Assurance'& 'Quality Sustenance, in the medical education sector:

To Enhance Educational Standards:

The primary aim of this collaboration is to enhance the educational standards of medical colleges in India. MARB and QCI seek to identify areas for improvement in infrastructure, faculty, curriculum, teaching methodologies, research facilities, and student support systems. Through rigorous assessments and ratings, the aim is to promote continuous quality improvement in medical education.

To Foster Accountability and Transparency:

MARB and QCI aim to establish a transparent and accountable system for the assessment and rating of medical colleges. This will include the development of objective evaluation criteria, assessment tools, and guidelines that are fair, consistent, and based on industry best practices. The objective is to ensure、transparency in the assessment process and provide reliable information to stakeholders, including students, parents, and the medical community.

To Promote Excellence in Medical Education:

Another objective of this collaboration is to promote excellence in medical education. MARB and QCI recognize the importance of nurturing competent and well-rounded medical professionals who can contribute effectively to healthcare delivery. By conducting comprehensive assessments and ratings, the aim is to identify colleges that excel in various aspects of medical education and facilitate their recognition and accreditation.

To Facilitate Continuous Quality Improvement:

MARB and QCI understand the significance of continuous quality improvement in medical colleges. The objective is to provide constructive feedback to colleges based on the assessment findings and support them in implementing necessary improvements. By fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement, the aim is to create an environment that nurtures innovation, research, and the adoption of best practices in medical education.

To Ensure Standardization and Harmonization:

MARB and QCI aim to ensure standardization and harmonization of assessment and rating processes across medical colleges. By establishing a common framework and criteria for assessment, the objective is to ensure consistency and comparability in the ratings. This will enable stakeholders to make informed decisions about the quality 0f education offered by different colleges.

To Support Regulatory Decision-making:

MARB, being the authorized board requires reliable and comprehensive information to make informed decisions , regarding recognition, affiliation, and regulation of medical colleges. The objective of this collaboration is to provide MARB with accurate and standardized data based on the assessments and ratings conducted by QCI. This will support MARB in its regulatory functions and contribute to the overall improvement of medical education.

To Foster Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing:

MARB and QCI aim to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing among medical colleges. The objective is to create a platform where colleges can exchange best practices, innovative teaching methodologies, and research findings. By facilitating networking and collaboration, the aim is to create a conducive environment for the overall development of medical education in the country.

To enhance public trust:

By conducting thorough assessments and ratings, MARB and QCI aim to enhance public trust in the quality of medical education provided by colleges. The transparency and objectivity of the process will assure students, parents, and the general public of the credibility and reliability of the ratings.

What will QCI do?

Specifying the role of QCI in assessment and rating of medical colleges, the MoU mentioned the following points:

1. Quality Council of India, New Delhi shall facilitate in activities specified as follows:-

1.1. QCI shall develop and maintain a comprehensive framework for the assessment and rating of medical colleges, incorporating best practices and benchmarks. The assessment tools, guidelines, and evaluation criteria to ensure consistent and fair assessments in consultation with MARB

1.2. QCI shall be responsible for the development, customization, and maintenance of the IT platform in consultation with MARB. QCI shall ensure that the platform adheres to the agreed-upon specifications, data security standards, and relevant legal and regulatory requirements.

1.3. QCI shall be responsible for conducting the assessments, evaluations, and on-site visits to the medical colleges as part of the rating process.

1.4. QCI shall appoint qualified assessors and evaluators to conduct assessments and ratings of medical colleges.

1.5. QCI shall train the assessors on the assessment criteria and usage of the n platform and provide ongoing technical support.

1.6. The assessment shall be carried out by a team of experts appointed by QCI, who shall evaluate the medical colleges based on the established standards and guidelines.

1.7. QCI shall carry out the assessment and rating process exclusively for colleges that have obtained permission from MARB or have had their first batch graduated.

1.8. QCI shall be responsible for payment of honorarium to assessors, their travel, stay, etc.

1.9. QCI shall prepare assessment reports and populate the same on the IT platform.

For the above services, the QCI will be paid. QCI will charge a subsidized amount of INR 1 Lakh per assessment per college for the services it renders which include assessors, honorarium, arrangement of travel, stay, etc. of assessors, physical assessment and IT platform. The payment shall be made within 15 days from the receipt of the invoice submitted by QCI.

The agreement has been made effective from the date of signing of the MoU and will last for a period of 1 year.

To view the official MoU, click on the following link:

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/20230728193459-215257.pdf

Also Read: NMC joins hands with Quality Council of India for Assessment of Rating Medical Colleges