Relaxing norms for Appointment of Non-Teaching Consultants or Specialists as Assistant Prof in New Medical College would be in contravention of TEQ rules: NMC

New Delhi: While considering a request seeking one-time relaxation of the norms for the appointment of non-teaching consultants or specialists as Assistant Professors in a newly set up medical college, the Postgraduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) of the National Medical Commission (NMC) denied the same as it opined that it would be in contravention of the provisions of the TEQ-2022.

NMC PG Board clarified its opinion in this regard in the minutes of the meeting held by the PGMEB earlier this year, a copy of which is with Medical Dialogues team.

The meeting dated February 07, 2023, was held under the chairmanship of the President of PGMEB, Dr. Vijay Oza. Apart from Dr. Vijay Oza, the president of PGMEB and Dr. K. Senthil, the Part-time member of NMC PG Board, Mr. Aujender Singh, Deputy Secretary (PGMEB), Ms. Rita Singh, US (PGMEB) and Mr. Pramod Pant, Sr. PPS were also present in the meeting.

The NMC board was considering a request from the Secretary of a State Government, where the existing district hospital was being upgraded to the teaching hospital.

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However, the State informed the Commission that as per the latest Teacher Eligibility Qualification in Medical Institutions Regulations, 2022, Clause 8.1, only those consultants who are currently working in the hospital (which will be considered as teaching hospital for setting up of 100 intake medical college) for last 2 years become eligible for the Assistant Professor.

Clause 8.1 of TEQ 2022 states, "A non-teaching Consultant or Specialist, possessing postgraduate medical degree, working for at least two years in the concerned specialty in a minimum 330 bedded non-teaching Government Hospital shall be eligible to be designated as Assistant Professor and be absorbed permanently, if that Hospital is being converted into a Government Medical College for imparting undergraduate medical education. The subsequent promotions to higher teaching designations would be as per these regulations. Provided further that this would only be a one time provision and so absorbed teacher should not be transferred from that Institution for five years. The subsequent appointment of any faculty would be as per these regulations."

It was pointed out by the State that the Senior Consultants who previously served in the district hospital for more than 2 years and now have been transferred or promoted as well as those who have not completed two years of service in hospital will not be able to avail this one time opportunity if getting designated as Assistant Professor in the proposed medical college.

Referring to this, the State requested the Commission for granting one-time relaxation of the criteria of two years in the concerned specialty in a minimum 330 bedded non-teaching Government Hospital, to enable starting of the medical college in the State.

Deliberating on the proposal of the State for one-time relaxation in the appointment of a non-teaching consultants or specialists as Assistant professor in a newly established medical college by upgrading a Government District Hospital, the PG Board of NMC decided not to grant this relaxation as it opined it to be in contravention of the TEQ rules of 2022.

"The Board decided not to accede to the request as it will be in contravention of the provisions of the TEQ-2022," read the minutes of the meeting dated February 07, 2023.

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