Extension of Outreach Community Posting if 100 Patients are not Admitted in 15 Days! Medical College's Order for PG medicos Sparks Controversy

Mathura: The recent directive of Mathura-based Krishna Mohan Medical College and Hospital, for its postgraduate (PG) resident doctors to admit 100 patients in 15 days during their "Outreach Community Residents Posting" has sparked a controversy.

After the medical college warned that failure to meet this target of admitting 100 patients would result in the extension of the program on a per-day basis, doctors started questioning the order.

Raising the issue, the United Doctors' Front (UDF) has already filed a Right to Information (RTI) application to the National Medical Commission (NMC) seeking clarity on the matter.

Apart from this, the association has also written to the Apex Medical Commission seeking NMC's urgent intervention regarding the "exploitative practices" at the Mathura-based medical college.

What did the Circular Say? 

In its circular dated 14.01.2025, the medical college informed that in compliance with the Management orders, it was launching a new program titled "Outreach Community Residents Posting".

The objectives of the program, as mentioned in the circular, included that the resident doctors would accompany the PROs to various villages/routes for promotional activities and patient outreach. One of the objectives stated, "Admit at least 100 patients within the next 15 days."

Regarding the guidelines of the program, the circular dated 14.01.2025 stated the following:

- Resident doctors will be divided into four groups, with each group consisting of three PG students accompanied by a PRO.

- Failure to admit 100 patients within 15 days will result in an extension of the program on a per-day basis. - If a patient leaves against medical advice due to a PG resident doctor's failure to consult with their consultant, the resident doctor must admit 50 patients individually.

- PG resident doctors must keep their consultants informed about patient treatment and progress.

It also added that patients would be offered two options- Package deal or medicine-only basis, while adding that if patients opted for medicines only, their PAC medicines would be free (one-time only).

UDF Files RTI: 

Soon after the order started circulating over social media platforms, the United Doctors' Front submitted an RTI request to NMC seeking clarity and accountability regarding the concerned order.

Filing the RTI, the association sought detailed information on:

1. The rules governing the scope of work for resident doctors under such postings and the facilities to be provided to them.

2. Regulations prohibiting medical colleges from imposing patient admission targets or engaging in unethical practices, along with actions prescribed for violations.

3. The names and roles of authorities responsible for safeguarding the well-being and mental health of students at the mentioned college, and actions taken against such orders if found in violation.

4. Circulars or directives issued by the NMC to medical colleges on maintaining decorum, professional ethics, and preventing harassment or humiliation of PG students.

"UDF strongly believes such directives, if true, undermine the professional ethics and mental well-being of junior doctors and calls for immediate clarification and appropriate action from the concerned authorities," mentioned a release by the association.

Letter to NMC: 

Apart from filing the RTI, the association also wrote to NMC seeking the Commission's urgent intervention regarding the "exploitative practices" at the Mathura-based medical college.

Referring to the order dated January 14, 2025, which mandated postgraduate resident doctors to admit 100 patients within 15 days during their Outreach Community Residents Posting in rural areas with punitive actions implied for non-compliance, the association mentioned that this directive was "highly exploitative, unethical, and detrimental to the mental and physical well-being of PG residents."

Further, the association opined that the order also raised concerns about the misuse of medical education for institutional benefit rather than prioritizing patient care and ethical standards.

As per the association, imposing a target of admitting 100 patients within 15 days was arbitrary and it placed undue pressure on the resident doctors, ultimately compromising the quality of care.

"Penalizing residents for factors beyond their control, such as patient discharge against medical advice, further exacerbates stress and demoralization," UDF further mentioned in the letter. It also added that assigning residents to promotional activities unrelated to their training undermined their educational purpose and professional dignity. 

Further, the association urged NMC to identify and hold responsible authorities accountable to ensure the well-being of resident doctors at the institute and to formulate and enforce stringent guidelines to prevent recurrence of similar incidents across medical institutes.

"Directives like this not only erode the ethical fabric of medical education but also severely impact the mental health and morale of young doctors. We urge the NMC to intervene and take decisive steps to uphold the dignity of medical training and safeguard the rights of resident doctors," stated the letter.

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