Deficiencies Unaddressed despite show-cause Notices: NMC Warns SKIMS of slashing MBBS seats

Jammu: Taking action against the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Medical College Srinagar for failing to address the deficiencies despite several show cause notices, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has warned the institute of slashing the MBBS seats.

Issuing a show-cause notice to the institute on 29.04.2024, the Director of the Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) of NMC, Shambhu Sharan Kumar highlighted the inefficiency on the part of the college administration including the Director and the Dean as the college did not take any action despite so many notices and warnings.

As per the show-cause notice, NMC on March 8, 2024 had asked all the medical colleges/institutes having valid Letter of Permission (LoP) for MBBS admission to fill the details/data of respective institutes on the NMC portal for annual declaration by the medical colleges under NMC as required under the NMC Act, 2019. 

Further, NMC from time to time issued various regulations and also directed the colleges on February 6 to furnish the video recording of the forthcoming annual examination for every phase of MBBS (1st MBBS, 2nd MBBS, 3rd MBBS, and 3rd Final) to be conducted by the respective medical colleges/institutes/Deemed Universities along with the Standard Assessment Form C, the Show-Cause notice dated 29.04.2024 mentioned.

Also Read: Video Recordings of Annual MBBS Exams should not exceed 60 minutes: NMC

As per the latest media report by Daily Excelsior, issuing the latest notice, NMC further mentioned that the college authorities were intimated about the deficiencies found in the Aadhar Enabled Biometric Attendance System through Show Cause Notices issued from time to time. Further, the Commission pointed out that the issue was viewed seriously by the competent authority and it was also mentioned in the show-cause notice dated 30.01.2024.

Apart from this, the show-cause notice also pointed out that the experts nominated for evaluating the Annual Declaration Form, Video Recording of Examination and AEBAS report also observed deficiencies in SKIMS, Srinagar.

It also pointed out that none of the registered persons were marking attendance in the Faculty and also the number of beds is also inadequate. The notice also highlighted that the Cytopathology is 1 o/o less of total OPD while the Culture Sensitivity is Zero.

As per the notice, the Serologry is 5% lesser than the total OPD, number of total minor surgeries is inadequate, further the institute did not provide department-wise details of major and minor surgeries. Apart from this, the number of families adopted is also inadequate, the details of Cadavers were also not provided and the college provided the video recordings of only three department's examinations.

Taking serious exception to the malfunctioning of the college, the show-cause notice referred to Chapter III-Clause 8 of the Maintenance of Standard of Medical Education Regulation 2023, which mention the provisions of monetary penalty not exceeding Rs 1 crore per violation or act of omission by the medical colleges. 

Also Read: Rs 1 crore penalty for violation: NMC notifies final MSMER -2023

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that NMC in the Maintenance of Standards of Medical Education Regulations, 2023 or MSMER 2023 had mentioned that the Commission may impose several forms of penalty such as issue warning to the medical college to rectify or comply, impose monetary penalty up to Rs 1 crore, impose penalty up to Rs 5 lakhs to the faculties of the medical college for misconduct. It may also withhold the accreditation process, recommend to the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) of NMC to withhold the application process for any new course including increase of seats in the existing course, reduce the number of students in the next or subsequent academic years, stop admission to one or more courses, recommend for withdrawal of permission, withhold or withdraw accreditation for up to five academic years.

Giving the college an additional and final opportunity to give explanation on the points of deficiencies raised by experts through a virtual hearing before the Committee, the Commission has warned that if the college fails to avail the opportunity provided, it will be presumed that the college does not have any clarification to furnish and no further opportunity will be given to the institute. The Commission warned that in such case, the committee will take decisions as deemed fit.

Daily Excelsior has reported that the Commission has also asked SKIMS to explain within three days after issuance of the Show Cause as to why the seats for the MBBS course should not be reduced for the year 2024-2025 or why a monetary penalty should not be imposed on the college. As per the Daily, the committee had asked the college to give the virtual explanation on May 1.

However, commenting on the matter, the Principal of SKIMS Medical College, Dr. Irfan Rabani mentioned that several medical colleges across the country were issued with show-cause notices. He also mentioned that on May 1, 2024, a virtual meeting was held with the NMC authorities and point-to-point information was provided. He also expressed his hope that the issues will be settled at the earliest.

Recently, for the first time, taking note of deficiencies in faculty and clinical material, NMC imposed fines on medical colleges for violating the Maintenance of Standards of Medical Education Regulations, 2023 (MSMER) rules.

The Commission has slapped a fine of up to Rs 3 lakh on government medical colleges in Tamil Nadu, including the colleges in Dharmapuri, Ramanathapuram, and Nagapattinam. Apart from these colleges, the Commission has also issued show-cause notices to many other colleges for deficiencies in Aadhaar-based biometric attendance. The list also includes the Government Medical College in Madurai.

Also Read: First time: NMC slaps fine on 3 TN medical colleges for Faculty, Clinical Material Deficiencies