All MD, MS Medicos have to undergo Residency in district hospitals for 3 months: NMC mandates implementation

New Delhi: District Residency Programme (DRP) that could not be properly implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has now been made mandatory for all the Postgraduate broad speciality students admitted in 2021 batch onwards.

Writing to the Deans and Principals of all the medical colleges and Directors of Medical Education (DME) of the country, the Postgraduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) of the National Medical Commission has informed about this.

"Post Graduate Medical Education Regulation 2000 (PGMER-2000) provides for three months District Residency Programme (DRP) in district health system for PG students of broad specialty. Theses provision were made by notification dated 16.09.2020. However due to COVID pandemic, DRP has not been implemented till now," mentioned the Commission in its letter dated December 22, 2022.

"As per the Regulations, the District Residency Programme has been made mandatory in district hospitals for three months and the rotation of students is to be done in the 3rd or 4th or 5th Semester of the postgraduate programme," it further mentioned.

In the letter, the Commission referred to the representations received from the students admitted in the year 2000 seeking exemption from DRP as their final year examinations are approaching.

Referring to this, the letter mentioned, "It is informed that the National Level Steering committee chaired by President, PGMEB has decided that:

i. DRP is mandatory for all the students admitted in 2021 batch onwards."

ii) DRP is also mandatory for students admitted in private medical colleges and deemed universities. DME of the concerned states are fully empowered to direct the private medical colleges and deemed universities under their jurisdiction to implement DRP so that the students admitted there in are not deprived of this programme.

iii) As for as the District Hospital is concerned it includes CHC at Taluka Level subject to the condition that it is public sector/government- funded hospital of not less 100 beds with facility/staff for the designated specialties.

iv) DRP being new initiative and it will be flexible based on the requirements and necessary modifications in the regulations can be suggested.

v) Residents have to be provided accommodation within the campus of District Hospital or within a periphery of 2-3 Kms, so that they are available on call. This arrangement has to be provided by the concerned State/ UT.

"All concerned are requested to take necessary action accordingly," the Commission mentioned in the letter.

Medical Dialogues had last year reported that with an aim of "strengthening of services of the District Health System", the National Medical Commission (NMC) had mentioned a "District residency Programme" at the District Hospitals in the Draft Regulations on Postgraduate Medical Education.

It was proposed that all the PG medical students pursuing their MD/MS in broad specialities should undergo a compulsory residential rotation of three months in District Hospitals/ District Health System as a part of the course curriculum.

Such rotation shall take place in the 3rd or 4th or 5th semester of the Postgraduate programme, the new NMC Draft Regulations spelt out. This rotation shall be termed as 'District Residency Programme' (DRP) and the postgraduate medical student undergoing training shall be termed as a 'District Resident'.

To view the official Notice, Click here : https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/20221222070515-194711.pdf

Also Read:NMC Draft Regulations details District Residency Programme for 3 Months, Here is what they say