Altogether 119 Medicos Committed Suicide in the last 5 years, 1166 left institutes: NMC reveals in RTI reply

New Delhi: In the last five years, altogether 119 medical students committed suicide and 1,166 students left medical colleges and institutes, the National Medical Commission (NMC) revealed while replying to a Right to Information (RTI) query.

Referring to the data submitted by 512 medical colleges in the country, the Apex medical education regulatory body, NMC has further revealed that 64 UG and 55 MD/MS students committed suicides in the last five years.

This information was shared by NMC while responding to a RTI query raised by Vivek Pandey, a social and political activist. He had sought to know from the apex medical regulator about the number of students who committed suicide during the last 5 years, and also the number of colleges who left the colleges and institutions during that period.

Giving breakup regarding the number of students who left medical colleges, NMC revealed that altogether 160 UG medical students left institutes. In case of PG medical courses, 114 MS General Surgery, 50 MS Orthopaedics, 103 OBG, 100 MS ENT, 56 MD General Medicine, 54 MD Paediatrics, 529 students belonging to other specialties left the colleges during this time.

Also Read: Give Weekly Off, Stress Counselling, Yoga sessions: NMC dictum to medical colleges to manage resident doctors' Mental Health

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that taking cognizance of the instances of suicide and resignation of medical students, NMC had directed the medical colleges back in October 2022 to submit statistics regarding the number of students who committed suicide and left colleges during the last 5 years within October 7, 2022.

Apart from this, the Apex medical commission had also sought to know from the colleges about the details regarding the working hours and weekly off given to the students.

The Apex medical commission had also directed all the medical colleges and institutes providing PG medical training to address the issues to PG medicos (resident Doctors).

For the same, the medical colleges had been directed to take numerous steps which range from ensuring adequate rest, weekly off, counseling for those who are under stress, arranging Yoga sessions on regular basis, sanctioning leave when required and respecting their dignity by providing a positive conducive working environment.

Also Read: NMC seeks report on suicides by medicos, directs institutes to submit data