Failed to fulfil attendance criteria as per NMC guidelines, around 180 medical students declared ineligible to appear in upcoming exams

Mumbai: Failing to fulfil the attendance criteria and remaining absent in classes, around 125 students from Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College and General Hospital in Sion and 55 students from Dr RN Cooper Medical College and General Hospital in Vile Parl have been declared ineligible to take part in the forthcoming exams. 

According to National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines, at least 75% attendance in theory and 80% in practical or clinical training is mandatory for MBBS students to appear in supplementary examination following the regular annual examination. 

MBBS students having less than 75% attendance in theory and less than 80% in practical or clinical training will not be allowed to appear in supplementary examinations.

Such students will be required to take classes with the junior batch commencing in the next academic year to compensate for their attendance deficit and they will be eligible to appear in the examination in the next academic year only. This implies they will have to repeat the year.

Also read- Attendance Of 75 Percent For Theory, 80 Percent For Practical Training Necessary To Appear In MBBS Supplementary Exams: NMC

This clarification was issued by the Commission in the released Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to the Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) course curriculum as reported by Medical Dialogues team.

Hence, in accordance with the aforementioned regulations set forth by the NMC, a total of 180 students have been deemed ineligible to participate in the upcoming examination scheduled for next month. According to HT report, The students have approached various channels to allow them to sit for the exams.

However, the college authorities claimed that after the commencement of the college, the students were informed about these rules but the students are alleged to have not taken these rules very seriously. Some students were given exemptions, but because their attendance rate consistently remained below 40%, the administration decided to address the issue strongly. 

“There were as many as 175 medical students who did not fulfil the attendance criteria. However, on humanitarian grounds, we have considered a few cases. Still, 125 medical students won’t be allowed to appear for the October exam,” said a senior official from LTMG Sion Hospital.

Talking about informing the parents of these students on social media about their low attendance, another senior official from Cooper Hospital told HT, “The students were sensitised and counselled on the rules and regulations to qualify for the exams. We also had taken undertakings from students on the same. We also have a WhatsApp group with parents where the attendance status is posted regularly. So, the parents were aware of the low attendance. Why did they not speak to their children?”

"The medical students will not be allowed to sit in the exams as they have not learned anything. “It is a growing trend among medical students to skip scheduled classes. They fail to understand that attending clinical and tutorial-based class events is important. We cannot jeopardise the health of people by allowing such half-baked medical students to appear in exams,” said an official from Sion Hospital.

“We have received correspondence from the parents of these medical students and asked the dean of their respective medical colleges to look into the matter,” said Dr Sudhakar Shinde, additional municipal commissioner, BMC.

Dr Madhuri Kanitkar, vice-chancellor of Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) said, “It is the dean’s responsibility to look after the attendance of the student. MUHS will look after the issue only if the medical college refers the issue to us. Earlier, as a dean of Armed Force Medical College, I was also strict with attendance as these medical students are future doctors and we need to prepare them. It is observed that the medical students skip lectures and attend private tuitions.”

Also read- Ghost Faculty, Low Attendance Plague Medical Colleges In 2022-23, National Medical Commission Reveals