Mass Transfer Spree: State governments scuttling teachers to new medical colleges to safeguard NMC approvals

New Delhi: After the recent directives issued by the National Medical Commission (NMC) seeking faculty details and also the Commission's clarification regarding the final decision on the new medical colleges, State governments across the country have started transferring faculties to the new medical colleges.

TOI has reported that recently the Medical Education Division of the Rajasthan Government transferred more than 80 faculty from over 10 medical colleges to five other institutes that are seeking permission to start intake capacity for the MBBS course this year. This transfer order was issued a day after the Commission asked all the medical colleges to update their websites with the details of the faculties.

Similarly, the Telangana Health Department also issued orders on July 21 and ordered the transfer of seven doctors of Additional Director Medical Education Level and 184 professors, The Hindu has reported.

However, in the case of Telangana, the decision to transfer was taken after NMC clarified last month that their recent decisions on new medical colleges in the country do not equate to their approval.

Also Read: NMC slams State Govts for transferring medical teachers ahead of Inspection

Transferring faculties from the established medical colleges to the new proposed medical colleges is a practice that has been going on for years. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that last year, NMC had slammed the States/UT Governments on the irregular practice of transferring faculty to medical colleges that lack sufficient strength of teaching staff just ahead of the NMC inspection and transferring them back to their respective institutes once the assessment is over.

NMC last month found that at least 500 out of 706 medical colleges across the country were reeling under faculty and infrastructure deficiencies. The Commission imposed monetary penalties on many of these colleges, which were found falling short of NMC's standards.

Faculty Transfer in Rajasthan: 

Recently NMC Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) directed all the medical colleges across the country to upload the faculty list by 31st July 2024. It also asked the medical institutes to update the faculty list every month, specifying that the deadline for such updating shall be the last day of every month.

Also Read: Upload Faculty Lists, Update Monthly! NMC gives deadline to Medical Colleges, warns of action

As per the latest media report by the Times of India, a day after NMC's directive in this regard, the medical education division of Rajasthan Government transferred more than 80 faculties from more than 10 medical colleges to five other institutes that are seeking permission to start MBBS course from this year.

However, the Medical Education Commissioner Iqbal Khan informed TOI that apart from transferring faculties, the Government will also recruit doctors for the new medical colleges. He added, "The state govt has announced recruitment of 625 doctors for these five medical colleges. It will start from Aug."

This decision comes after NMC denied to grant permission to the State to start MBBS admission in five medical colleges in Sawai Madhopur, Nagaur, Baran, Banswara and Jhunjhunu for 2024-2025 academic year. NMC denied to grant permission after taking note of insufficient deployment of teaching staff.

Also Read: Fact Check: Has NMC given approval to 113 Medical Colleges?

Faculty Transfer in Telangana: 

The Hindu has reported that the Telangana Government has also ordered the transfer of doctors and faculties to the newly established medical colleges. Further, the State ordered the recruitment of new teachers for the eight new government medical colleges.

This comes after last month NMC clarified that their recent decisions on new medical colleges did not mean their approval. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that NMC on 06.07.2024 informed its final decisions of MARB in respect of 113 applications communicated through e-mail IDs to the Medical Institutions/Colleges concerned for information and necessary action by them within the stipulated timeline.

Later on 08.07.2024, NMC clarified that it only communicated its 'final decision' to those 113 applicant medical colleges, adding that "Final decision does not mean approval".

Following this, on July 13, the Finance Department of Telangana issued an order granting permission to the Director of Medical Education (DME) to engage 872 personnel on a contract basis in the Health, Medical and Family Welfare Department. It was decided that these personnel would work in the eight new government medical colleges and general hospitals until March 31, 2025.

As per the order, the Health Department will recruit 25 professors, 28 associate professors, and 56 assistant professors for each college, totalling 109 personnel a college.

Again on July 21, the Health Department issues orders transferring seven doctors of Additional Director of Medical Education level and 184 professors. It ordered that 86 doctors were to be transferred to the eight new government medical colleges and general hospitals in Yadadri Bhongir, Maheshwaram, Narsampet, Medak, Mulugu, Narayanpet, Jogulamba Gadwal and Quthbullapur.

Also Read: NMC notifies its Final Decision on applications to establish 113 new medical colleges