MBBS limbo: BRD medical college 3 Students stuck for upto 20 years as NMC's 9-year cap clashes with MCI-era admissions

Gorakhpur: While the National Medical Commission (NMC) rules now mandate that MBBS students must complete the course within 9 years from the date of admission, three students of BRD Medical College, Gorakhpur, admitted during the erstwhile Medical Council of India (MCI) era have remained stuck in the course for over 20 years after failing in certain subjects.

Recently, the college released the results of one student following a High Court order, while two others are still awaiting their results.

The three students belong to the 1998, 2009 and 2010 batches and had enrolled in the MBBS course at BRD Medical College. However, due to failure to clear certain subjects in examinations, long delays in pending examinations, result declaration and regulatory hurdles, their academic progress remained stalled for over two decades. 

Also read- 9-year Cap to complete MBBS, Choice-based credit courses proposed in NMC draft

According to the National Medical Commission Regulations, a student who joins the MBBS course must complete and pass the entire degree within 9 years from the date of admission. Apart from this, the commission also specified that the students shall not be allowed more than four attempts for the first year.

However, the admission of these three students falls under the erstwhile Medical Council of India (MCI) time, which was replaced by NMC in 2020 and did not strictly limit or specify the duration of the course. Because of this regulatory transition, the students are in academic limbo.

Until recently, one of the students approached the High Court seeking the release of his pending result, as per India Today media report. Acting on the court’s direction, the college declared the result, but the student failed again in two subjects. He has now been allowed to appear in supplementary examinations.

Meanwhile, the results of the other two students are still pending. According to college authorities, discussions are ongoing with the university, and official communication is underway to resolve the matter and declare the results.

Officials indicated that once the results of the remaining two students are released, they will either be declared to pass or allowed to appear in supplementary examinations, which could finally determine whether they can complete the course after years of uncertainty.

Speaking to India Today, BRD Medical College Principal Ramkumar Jaiswal said the institution is bound by the new regulations of the National Medical Commission (NMC).

Medical Dialogues had also reported that the BRD Medical College, Gorakhpur, approached the National Medical Commission (NMC) seeking clear directions in an unusual case of an MBBS student who had remained in the first year for over 11 years after failing the exam in 2015.

Also read- NMC to decide fate of MBBS student stuck in 1st year for 11 years at BRD medical college