Health Bulletin 14/February/2026
Here are the top health stories for the day:
19 of 54 NMC Posts Vacant, Health Minister Informs Parliament
Nearly one-third of the approved positions in the National Medical Commission (NMC) are currently vacant, as per data shared by the Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Anupriya Patel in the Rajya Sabha.
The total sanctioned strength across the apex medical regulator and its autonomous boards is 54 posts, of which 35 are filled, while 19 remain vacant. These vacant posts include the posts of Presidents of the Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) and the Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB).
Bombay HC Upholds NMC Rule Against Profit-Driven Medical Colleges
Observing that medical colleges should not be built for profit-making motives and must remain aligned with public interest, the Bombay High Court upheld previous Rule 6(g) of the 2023 Regulations framed by the National Medical Commission (NMC), which restricted the establishment of medical colleges only to Section 8 (not-for-profit) companies.
However, even as the Court delivered its verdict recently, the apex regulatory commission had previously announced significant regulatory change. The NMC Chairperson had declared that the apex medical regulator removed the earlier restriction allowing only non-profit (Section 8) entities to set up medical colleges and allowed for-profit companies to set up medical colleges. This means that now both non-profit and for-profit companies can establish medical colleges, including under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.
For more details, check out the full story on the link below:
Medical Colleges must not be profit-driven: Bombay HC upholds NMC's earlier Non-profit rule
18 AIIMS Operational, Four Under Construction: Health Minister
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has clarified that 18 out of the 22 All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) approved under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) are currently functional, while four are still under various stages of construction.
The clarification was provided in the Lok Sabha on February 6, 2026, in response to an Unstarred Question raised by Smt. June Maliah regarding reports that over 18 per cent of AIIMS institutions are non-functional in the country.
For more details, check out the full story on the link below:
18 AIIMS Functional, 4 Under Construction: Health Minister tells Parliament
No Absolute Right to Argue in Person, Punjab and Haryana HC dismisses orthopaedic surgeon's plea
A specialist orthopaedic surgeon’s attempt to personally argue his case before a trial court has led to a significant ruling from the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which has clarified that professional expertise does not automatically grant a right of audience in court. The case has also led to the possibility of criminal contempt proceedings against him.
Dismissing the doctor’s plea against a magistrate’s order directing him to appear only through an advocate, the Court made it clear that excellence in one’s field does not translate into an indefeasible legal entitlement. The Court observed that being a highly qualified specialist orthopaedic surgeon does not grant an absolute right to represent oneself in court proceedings.
For more details, check out the full story on the link below
Punjab and Haryana HC dismisses orthopaedic surgeon's plea; no absolute right to appear in person
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