Responses Pour in for NMC Task Force Meeting on Mental Well-Being of Medical Students

New Delhi: The issue of mental well-being of medical students (both undergraduate and postgraduate) will be discussed by the National Task Force, constituted by the Anti-Ragging Cell of the National Medical Commission (NMC), in its meeting scheduled to take place tomorrow i.e. on May 30, 2024.

Considering the large number of stakeholders, set to participate in the conservation of Mental Health & Well-being of Medical Students, the Commission has clarified that only those participants joining the meeting physically will get a chance to speak.

Therefore, the Commission requested the stakeholders participating in the meeting in virtual mode to submit their issues and possible solutions by email by 6:00 PM on May 28, 2024, so that all of these issues could be attended to.

The Commission requested the participants in the meeting to submit the details in not more than 100 words including the complete details about themselves, the names of their colleges, the year in which they are studying, etc. 

Soon after NMC asked the stakeholders to submit the details, responses started pouring in from members of the medical fraternity including the medical students, resident doctors, medical college faculties etc.

Referring to the provisions of "reasonable working hours" for the resident doctors as mentioned in the Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations (PGMER) 2023, a doctor from Jharkhand sought clarity in this regard. 

"This is vague and unjustified causing lot of mental, physical and psychological problems to the residents. Apart from this hospital duty, they also have academic work. Duty hours should be clearly mentioned in this regulation as eight hours daily and maximum 48 hours weekly. In case of extra hours due to any emergency, the same shall be adjusted during the week or in the next week," suggested the doctor.

Highlighting the issue of unjustified working hours, a first-year ENT resident claimed that in their college, the working hours are excessively long i.e. 14 hours on regular days. She alleged that the duty hours get extended up to 38 hours on duty days and the students do not get off even on Sundays, as they are required to work until noon or later for camps. As per the PG medico, while the NMC guidelines advocate for giving the resident doctors a day off weekly, the rule does not get implemented and those requesting leave face criticism. 

"We lack time for eating, sleeping, and health check-ups. Raising concerns is dismissed with the excuse that this is typical for postgraduates, and NMC guidelines are not strictly followed," said the doctor. 

Responding to this claim, another doctor called it "inhuman", adding "How can you compel the students for 38 hours duty continuously? NMC has the responsibility to issue a clear guideline in this regard."

The undergraduate medical students also submitted their responses in this regard. A final-year MBBS student from Gujarat suggested that the mental health of the UG students should be comprehensively supported. According to the medico, from the challenges of entering a new environment in the first year to managing multiple challenges in the final year, the students require consistent care. Therefore, there should be a provision of an institutional mental health committee comprising of the Dean, Psychiatrists, Psychologists, and students. 

"It must extend mental health care beyond the outpatient department. It should create an anonymous portal where students can share their struggles, dilemmas, and experiences, with committee members responding on a public platform. Additionally, frequent activities should be organized to raise awareness and encourage students to prioritize mental health," added the student.

Meanwhile, a transgender student pointed out that NMC officials are yet to take any initiatives to include LGBTQI+ students and to prevent discrimination against such students who are currently pursuing UG/PG.

The student referred to the requirement of a dress code for gender non-conforming students, allocation of hostels to transgender/Non-binary students, creation of gender-neutral restrooms, inclusion of representation of a queer person in the internal complaints committees etc.

Addressing the issue of mental health, a faculty of Psychiatry from Pune opined that it is important to ensure regular mental health awareness among the faculties. She further added that the stigma of approaching mental health professionals is also due to the comments and the attitude of faculty and peers. Explaining the role of parents in this scenario, the doctor mentioned that the parents should also be sensitised to be proactive and partners in the mental health care of students.

"Faculty additionally needs to be sensitised on issues of the LGBT community amongst students. Additionally awareness of nonsexual and sexual boundaries at the worksplace is another aspect which is often not adressed," she further added.

The non-medical teachers also participated in the conversation. A participant questioned NMC if the Commission is aware of the conduct of MSc Medical Postgraduate courses across the country in over 30 plus medical colleges including AIIMS, PGI Chandigarh and JIPMER.

"What about the mental health of these students?! What happens to them?! Aren’t these institutions under the authority of NMC?! Why overlooking a particular group of medical students and are left to suffer where NMC made it very clear that they do not want MScMedicalPostgraduates as teaching faculties by the rules and regulations restricting their appointments?! what if these students are exploited by these medical institutions falsely?!" questioned the participant.

National Task Force: 

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that recently taking cognizance of cases of depression and suicide by medical students, the Anti-Ragging Committee of NMC had set up a National Task Force to address the mental health of medicos.

Also Read: NMC National Task Force to Hold Meeting to Discuss Mental Health and Well-being of Medical Students