Doctors cry foul on lengthy declaration form for NMC inspections

New Delhi: Pointing out that the current declaration forms are difficult and time-consuming to fill, the doctors have urged the National Medical Commission (NMC) to reconsider the need for these extensive forms required to be filled by residents and faculty during NMC inspections. 

As per the current rules, at the time of inspection by the Apex Medical Regulator, all the faculties and resident doctors are required to submit a declaration form for the purpose of verification.

Writing to NMC, the Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) recently pointed out that the current declaration form used for verification spans a staggering nine pages and demands detailed information "much of which remains unchanged and need not be resubmitted with each inspection". Hence, the doctors have asked the NMC to consider accepting smaller declaration forms during inspections for established and verified medical professionals.

"While we acknowledge the necessity of documenting existing manpower within institute. We find much of the information requested to be unnecessary repetition. needlessly burdening both the professionals and administrative staff," the association said.

FORDA highlighted that the declaration form requires attachments of essential documents such as qualification degrees, Aadhar, and PAN cards. "In an era of digitalization championed by our Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, this practice stands in stark contrast to the ideals of a digital India," the association mentioned in the letter.

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Referring to the prevalent system of Aadhar-based biometric registration at various levels throughout the career of a professional, FORDA opined that the "repeated submission of this data is not only redundant but also poses a significant risk to the privacy of professionals."

"Regrettably, many institutes lack robust systems to safeguard such sensitive information, leaving professionals vulnerable to privacy breaches in the event of a data leak. Furthermore, the aftermath of each inspection often entails the submission of multiple online Google forms and Excel sheets, further exacerbating the already burdened plight of residents and its assessors. This unnecessary exercise not only undermines efficiency but also detracts from the core focus of medical education and practice," it further mentioned in the letter addressed to the NMC Chairman.

Considering this, the association has urged the top medical regulator to reconsider its current approach and explore the possibility of adopting smaller declaration forms for established and verified professionals. FORDA has urged the Commission to digitalise the process, which would ultimately reduce the enormous paperwork. "By doing so, the process can be streamlined, alleviating the administrative burden on both parties involved," it added.

Pointing out that in certain institutes this data submission occurs biannually, underscoring the urgent need for a more thoughtful and modified approach, the association has urged NMC to take proactive steps to address these issues and ensure a smoother, more efficient process for all stakeholders involved.

Commenting on the matter, the President of FORDA, Dr. Aviral Mathur said, "Everytime an inspection happens, ALL the faculty and resident workforce have to RE-DEPOSIT their important details in paperwork. When a professional has once been verified, cannot the institution just issue a smaller declaration for the same, since some details never change. This will save a lot of paperwork and also avoid potential breach of vital identification data."

"Nowhere else are such verifications done. In an era of digitalisation, this is a rudimentary practice which merits careful rethinking," it further added.

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