NMC seeks report on suicides by medicos, directs institutes to submit data

New Delhi: Taking cognizance of the instances of suicide and resignation of medical students, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has directed the medical colleges in the country to submit statistics regarding the number of students who committed suicide and left colleges during the last 5 years within October 7, 2022.

Apart from this, the Apex medical commission has also sought to know from the colleges about the details regarding the working hours and weekly off given to the students.

Further, writing to the Deans/ Principals/ Directors of the Medical institutes, NMC informed about a dedicated Email ID (antiragging@timc.org.in) using which medical students can directly lodge ragging complaints with the Commission.

The medical colleges have been requested by NMC to give wide publicity by publishing the same on the website displaying on the prominent places like hostel, mess, classroom, library, lecture hall, common room etc. NMC has also asked the colleges for sending a compliance report.

This is not the first time that the Apex medical body has shown concern for the Mental Health and well-being of the Medical students. Medical Dialogues had last month reported that NMC had directed all the medical colleges and institutions providing PG medical training to address the issues to PG medicos ( resident Doctors). 

For the same, the medical colleges had been directed to take numerous steps which range from ensuring adequate rest, weekly off, counseling for those who are under stress, arranging Yoga sessions on regular basis, sanctioning leave when required and respecting their dignity by providing a positive conducive working environment.

The institutions were further directed that a committee may be constituted to look into the complaints/grievances including anonymous complaints/grievances which may be submitted by PG students either through mail or received in a drop box specially placed for this purpose.

Such a move by NMC came after the Commission received several grievances from Post Graduate (PG) Medical Students stating that they are under stress and depression due to long working hours, no weekly off, non-sanctioning of leave during emergency etc. This issue has been flagged in print media and also raised in Parliament.

Informing the colleges about constitution of an Anti-Ragging Committee, NMC mentioned on 30.09.2022, "National Medical Commission has constituted an Anti- Ragging Committee with Dr. Aruna V. Vanikar, President, UGMEB as the chairperson of the committee. Anti-Ragging Committee in its first meeting held on 27th September 2022, reviewed the ragging complaints received from the Medical Students/Parent's of the Medical Students and has expressed its concerns over incidents of suicide and suicidal tendency among the Medical Students. Although all incidents of suicide and suicidal tendency are not linked to ragging but in many cases incidents of suicide have been linked to ragging."

Therefore, the committee has decided that all the colleges should submit the following information for the last 5 years:

(i)Number of students who have committed suicide during the last 5 years (department wise in respect of PG students).

(ii) Number of students who have left the College/ Institute during the last 5 years (department wise in respect of PG students).

(iii) Details regarding the working hours and weekly off given to students.

"The above information may be submitted over mail by 7th October 2022, positively," read the NMC notice.

Apart from this, the Commission also informed about creating a dedicated Email ID for lodging ragging complaints and mentioned, "To facilitate the medical students to lodge the complaints with National Medical Commission also in addition to the concerned College/Institutes following dedicated Email ID has been created: antiragging@timc.org.in"

"All the colleges are requested to give wide publicity by publishing the same on website and displaying on the prominent places like hostel, mess, classroom, library, lecture hall, common room etc. A compliance report in this regard may kindly be sent," read the notice.

To view the official Notices , Click here : https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/20220930070331-186827.pdf 

                                                                    https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/20220930070347-186828.pdf

Also Read: Give Weekly Off, Stress Counselling, Yoga sessions: NMC dictum to medical colleges to manage resident doctors' Mental Health