NMC gives stern warning to Maha Medical College on complaints of Ragging, issues advisory

New Delhi: After conducting an inquiry into the allegations of ragging of Junior Resident students of Shri Vasantrao Nasik Govt medical college, Yavatmal, the National Medical Commission has issued an advisory to the medical college and warned that any future complaints of similar nature will be viewed very seriously by the Commission.

Further, taking note of the report submitted by an NMC team led by Dr. Yogender Malik, the apex medical education regulatory body has also directed the college to ensure that the complainant Junior doctor is not discriminated for raising ragging complaint and also make the working conditions of the students more conducive.

The NMC team also recommended that for any future ragging complaints at SVNGMC, action as per Regulation 1.8 of the National Medical Commission (Prevention and Prohibition of Ragging in. Medical colleges and Institutions) Regulation, 2021 may be taken by the Commission.

Further, the NMC Post Graduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) has opined that the college could have handled the matter in a better way by thoroughly investigating the allegations made in complaint including on the spot or site enquiry instead of just taking the written and oral statements of JR-1. The college could have provided moral support to the junior doctors, further opined NMC in its order dated 06.01.2023.

The matter concerns allegations of ragging at SVNGMC last year when the parent of one of the junior doctors had alleged instances of "inhumane torture" and "ragging" of a Junior Resident first year student of MS General Surgery at Shri Vasantrao Naik (SVN) Medical College by his seniors.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that writing to the Dean of the Medical College, the guardian of the PG medico has alleged that the third-year Junior resident doctors have been causing physical and mental torture to the first-year medico by several means.

The instances of ragging that the complainant had alleged included the fact that the 1st year Junior Residents are not being allotted to go to their hostel rooms even if there is no work in wards of OPD, they were made to stay until 2 to 3 am after the night rounds and write reports stopping on a low table etc.

Also Read: Ragging horror at SVN Medical College: Junior Residents forced to stand continuously

Citing another instance of the "inhumane torture and ragging" the letter had further mentioned that "If by chance any JR-1 is found dozing, the JR-3 resident pulls his hair and douses water on his/her face. Any person made to stand continuously for 24 to 48 hour without any rest is bound to doze involuntarily."

The ragging by the Senior students had been so severe that after joining the institute back on March 7th 2022, the first-year PG medico Dr. Anmol allegedly developed Cellulitis in his left leg by March end because he was required to stand non stop and did not get any rest. The condition further progressed to severe form of Varicose veins.

Referring to this NMC mentioned in its recent order, "Mrs. Juhi bhambhani further mentioned that due to above circumstances her son developed Cellulites in his left which got worsened to severe form of varicose veins, i.e. Class 4 Varicose Veins, for which. the Institute itself asked him to take further treatment. He undertook Endo Vascular Laser Ablation (E\TLA) surgery on 9th June, 2022 in Nagpur and was advised for 6 weeks rest and follow ups. The jR-1 were also threatened with dire consequences such as denial of entry to operation theatres and learning of surgical skills, failure in. internal exams, etc. and therefore, they were so scared to voice what they are facing."

Apart from submitting the complaint dated 23.08.2022 to the Dean of the College, the complainant had also lodged complaint to central helpline Anti Ragging Cell, New Delhi and Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), Nashik.

However, they did not find any strong evidence of ragging, the case was closed without informing the complainant and suspension of 5 suspected accused JR-3 was revoked, NMC mentioned in its order. The complainant doctor was informed of the outcome of the ragging complaint on November 1, 2022.

Meanwhile, after receiving the complaint, MUHS, Nashik constituted an independent Anti-ragging Committee that visited the College on 29.08.2022. After conducting an enquiry, the Committee submitted their report on 30.08.2022. The Committee also did not find any proof of ragging and thereafter the University placed the enquiry reports of both the College and the University in the University level.

Since no substantial evidence was found in the allegations of the complainant student, the enquiry reports were accepted at the Anti-Ragging and monitoring committee's meeting held on 21.09.2022 and the complaint was disposed of by the University. However, the passing a resolution on 29.09.2022, the University had issued instructions for improvement of the working environment to College to avoid incidents of ragging in future.

NMC PG Board noted that before the filing of the complaint by the mother of the concerned Junior doctor, another anonymous complaint of similar nature was filed in the College. After discussing the complaint in the Anti-Ragging Committee meeting of the National Medical Commission held on 12th October, 2022, it was decided to hold a virtual meeting with the Dean of the College and the aggrieved student.

Thereafter, a virtual meeting was held by NMC Anti-Ragging Committee with the Dean and the student on October 14, 2022 and on October 21, the college furnished the documents/ comments on the points raised by the Commission.

However, unsatisfied with the justifications provided by the college, it was decided in the Anti-Ragging Cornmittee meeting held on 17th November, 2022 that a three member team led by Dr. Yogender Malik, Member (EMRB) will visit the College to look into the matter.

Accordingly, the NMC team visited the college on December 5, 2022 and met all the students of three MS General Surgery batches and took note of their comments and views on ragging and related issues. 

Referring to this, NMC mentioned in the order, "The students were of the view that earlier the working environment was toxic but now the conditions have improved. The team also met Mrs. Juh. Bhambhani., who intimated that she was happy with the improvements made by the College after receipt of her complaint and did not want to press for any punitive measures against the JR-3."

Consequently, the NMC team submitted its report where it was recommended for closing the complaint. However, the NMC team suggested to issue an advisory to the College to the effect that "any future complaints of similar nature will be viewed very seriously by the Commission and action as per Regulation 1.8 of the National Medical Commission (Prevention and Prohibition of Ragging in. Medical colleges and Institutions) Regulation, 2021 may be taken by the Commission."

Accepting the report of the NMC team in the Anti- Ragging Committee meeting held on 30th December 2022, the PG medical board of NMC mentioned in the recent order, "Accordingly, Shri Va.santrao Nails Government Medical College, Yavatmal, Maharashtra is directed to ensure that Dr. Anmol Bhambhani is not discriminated for raising ragging complaint and also make the working conditions of the students more conducive and any future complaints of ragging from the students of the College would be viewed very seriously by the Commission."

Further NMC noted that the matter could have been handled in a better manner by the college authorities if the following course of actions may have been followed by the college:

I. Anonymous complaint received in the college on similar issue would have been taken seriously by thoroughly investigating the allegations made in complaint including on the spot or site enquiry instead of just taking the written and oral statements of JR-1. as per the Regulation 22 and 23 of the National Medical Commission (Prevention and Prohibition of Ragging in Medical colleges and Institutions) Regulation, 2021.

II. Mentoring and providing moral support to the junior students including the complainant and keeping the complainant informed of the action taken on the complaint. Regulation 7 to 14 of the National Medical Commission (Prevention and Prohibition of Ragging in Medical colleges and. Institutions) Regulation, 2022 may kindly be referred in this regard.

To view the official notice : click here : https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/20230106054104-196653.pdf

Also Read: 'Inhumane Torture' and Ragging horror at SVN Medical College, Junior Residents made to stand continuously, refused hostel rooms