After TN, Karnataka faces NMC Heat over deficiencies- 22 GMCs slapped show-cause notices

Bengaluru: After Tamil Nadu, now the National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued show-cause notices to government medical colleges in Karnataka for failure to meet standard parameters, including infrastructure and faculty recruitment, The Hindu has reported.

According to the Hindu report, altogether 22 government medical colleges in Karnataka have been issued show-cause notices by the Apex Medical Commission, including Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI), which is considered one of the most sought-after by students. The Department of Medical Education (DME) has expressed surprise that even BMCRI has received a show-cause notice for alleged deficiencies.

Also Read: NMC slaps penalty on 27 Karnataka Medical Colleges, 5 institutes fined Rs 15 lakh each

Commenting on this, the Director of DME, B.L. Sujatha Rathod, told The Hindu, "There is some ambiguity in the NMC show-cause notices. For example, it states that BMCRI, which has the highest number of outpatients in the State, has the Outpatient Department (OPD) numbers wrong. So, we have doubts whether they have thoroughly checked the OPD numbers."

NMC periodically asks all the medical colleges having a valid Letter of Permission (LoP) to submit and upload all the details and documents on its portal as part of their annual declaration. Issuing a notice on April 25, NMC had asked the medical colleges to furnish information on minor operation theatres and major operation theatres.

Meanwhile, the medical colleges, especially those located in Koppal, Chickballapur, Chitradurga, and Chikkamangaluru, have received notices for not appointing faculty members in medical colleges that started recently.

Further, the NMC notice also mentioned that the number of in-patients (surgical admissions) at the government medical college in Karwar was low. NMC mentioned that some of the medical colleges did not have adequate OPD numbers, there were deficiencies in teaching and non-teaching staff, and equipment was not available in others.

Also Read: NMC Shockwaves: 34 Tamil Nadu GMCs slapped Show-Cause Notices on deficiencies

There are altogether 3,500 MBBS seats at 22 government medical colleges in Karnataka. The State had earlier submitted a proposal to NMC to increase around 800 medical seats for 2025-2026. However, there are doubts about whether the proposals will be cleared.

Commenting on this, Dr. Rathod added, "Most of the colleges have already replied to the NMC’s ​​show-cause notices with appropriate documents. The NMC is yet to reply regarding the enhancement of seats. However, I have made it clear that these show-cause notices will not make any impact on the enhancement of medical seats. If the replies given by the colleges to the notices are not satisfactory, the NMC can impose a penalty."

The Minister for Medical Education, Dr. Sharan Prakash Patil, however, said, "All government medical colleges in the State have good infrastructure and good equipment. However, there is a shortage of faculty members in medical colleges that have been started recently. Earlier, appointments were made in all colleges as per the rules of the NMC Act, 2020. However, the problem is that the NMC has directed that appointments be made as per the 2023 Act."

Confirming that a proposal has already been submitted to the Government to recruit faculty members in medical colleges, the Minister added that already the Finance Department has given its approval to this.

"In addition, the State government has stopped all recruitment processes until the internal reservation implementation processes are completed in the State. Government medical colleges have been allowed to recruit other faculties, including senior residents, on a contract basis. Most of the colleges have completed this recruitment process and replied to NMC’s notice," he added.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that last year, taking cognisance of poor infrastructure and deficiencies in facilities, NMC had penalised at least 27 medical colleges across Telangana, including several government institutes. Back then, the data obtained from the Department of Medical Education, Karnataka, revealed a faculty shortage. NMC had imposed penalties on these medical colleges ranging from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 15 lakh.

Recently, the National Medical Commission (NMC) slapped show cause notices on 34 Government medical colleges in Tamil Nadu for deficiencies in faculty and services, including labs and surgeries. The action was reportedly taken against all the government medical colleges in Tamil Nadu, except Madras Medical College and Govt Coimbatore Medical College, and Hospital.

Also Read: Facing Scrutiny over deficiencies, TN Medical Colleges reply to NMC notices