Will not allow any student to die or be depressed: NMC's Dr Yogender Malik

New Delhi: "We will not allow any student to be depressed and not one student to die in this country because they are a big resource for this country and the PM of the country is trying to increase the numbers over the years," Dr Yogender Malik, Member of Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB), NMC stated this recently while referring to the mental health concerns among medicos across the country.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that taking cognizance of cases of depression and suicide by medical students, the National Medical Commission (NMC) formed a Task Force under the Anti-ragging Committee to tackle mental health-related issues among medical students.

NMC's Task Force:

Speaking to ANI on the development, Dr Yogendra Malik, stated, "This task force is under the anti-ragging committee. Actually, we have been working on the mental health issues of the students right from the beginning with NMC. The PG board came out with regulations that they should get leaves and rest, and all infrastructure and yoga were also introduced. But despite this, we were getting reports that owing to some other reasons, suicides and mental health issues are there amongst the students."

The 15-member task force headed by Dr BM Suresh, Professor, Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscience (NIMHANs) includes representatives like Dr Geeta Guin, Dean, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College, Dr Yogendra Malik, Member EMRB, NMC are among others.

The report will be submitted in May this year. In a notification released earlier, while clarifying the issue of reporting by the Task Force, the Commission mentioned that "The Task Force shall submit a comprehensive report outlining key findings and actionable recommendations for promoting mental health of medical students by 31 st May, 2024. Task force will submit the monthly progress report to the Anti Ragging Cell."

As per the NMC order, the Task Force shall convene regular meetings, either virtually or in-person, as necessary to fulfill its mandate. Apart from this, additionally, the committees may also visit the medical colleges where incidents of suicide have been reported. "Committee may co opt other Members on need basis to facilitate its study and timely finalization of report," stated the order.

Commenting on the establishment of the task force, Dr Aviral, President, of FORDA told ANI, "The establishment of the NMC Task Force underscores the significance of proactive measures in addressing the persistent challenges faced by medical students. However, while measures such as yoga programs and paid leaves are outlined in the policy, they often remain unimplemented in medical colleges," said Dr Aviral, President, of FORDA.

"While the establishment of the Task Force signifies a step forward, its nomenclature suggests a retrospective approach. To truly effect change, the Task Force must act preemptively by identifying toxic conditions within colleges and recommending measures to mitigate them before they escalate," he said.

"Furthermore, it is crucial that the Task Force ensures the effective implementation of stress-reduction initiatives proposed by the NMC, particularly in colleges located in remote rural areas. Strong surveillance in these colleges will help assess challenges and find sustainable solutions," Dr Viral suggested.

"Additionally, the establishment of an NMC helpline where students can report harassment will significantly boost students' confidence in seeking support and addressing issues they face. Neutral and proactive measures are essential in fostering a supportive environment for medical students," he added.

"Handling mental issues requires empathy, patience, and professional support. It's essential to listen actively, provide a supportive environment, and encourage seeking help from qualified professionals when needed." Said Dr Anil Kohli, Former Director, DCI.

The task force was constituted at the time when responding to a Right to Information (RTI) application, the NMC data revealed that in the last five years, altogether 122 medical students committed suicide and 1,270 medicos dropped out of college.

NMC provided the details regarding the number of medicos who committed suicide and who dropped out of medical colleges on 07.02.2024. As per the data, 64 MBBS students committed suicide in the last five years from 2018-2022.

Among the 58 PG students who committed suicide during this time period, 12 students were pursuing MS in Clinical branches, 36 of them were pursuing MD in clinical branches and 10 of them were pursuing MD/MS Pre and Para clinical branches. The data further revealed that 153 MBBS and 1117 PG medicos dropped out of their institutes during these last five years.

Mental Health Concerns and NMC Actions:

Despite efforts made by the government, the issue of mental health of medical students remained unaddressed over the years. Back in 2022, NMC took note of the issue and showing deep concern for the mental health and well-being of PG medicos, NMC had directed all the medical colleges and institutions providing PG medical training to address the issues faced by the PG medicos.

NMC had also asked the medical colleges to set up a committee to look into the complaints/grievances including anonymous complaints/grievances which may be submitted by the PG students either through mail or received in a drop box specially placed for this purpose.

Recently, taking another step to ensure good mental health of medical students, NMC wrote to the Principal Secretary of Health and Medical Education of all States and Union Territories, asking them to review the seat leaving bond policy, and preferably do away with the same.

The direction came after the National Medical Commission's anti-ragging committee held a meeting on 9th January 2024 to address the mental health concerns of PG medical students and recommended the State/UT to review the seat leaving policy in medical colleges and do away the same. As an alternative, they recommended that the States may consider debarring the students for admission in their States for the next one year.

Also Read: Breaking News: NMC Asks States to do Away with Seat leaving Bond