Non-medical teachers oppose NMC CBME Regulations 2023, Plan Protest at Jantar Mantar
New Delhi: Protesting against the National Medical Commission's (NMC) decision of reducing the percentage of non-medical teachers in certain subjects and excluding them altogether as the examiners for the undergraduate medical examinations, the National M.Sc Medical Teachers' Association (NMMTA) has announced a protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Monday, August 21, 2023.
The call for protest on the part of NMMTA, which represents MSc and Ph.D. candidates teaching non-clinical subjects in medical colleges, comes in response to the Competency-Based Medical Education Curriculum (CBME) regulations 2023. These new regulations came into effect on August 1, 2023.
Excluding the non-medical teachers as examiners, NMC has mentioned in the new CBME Regulations, "Person appointed as an examiner in the particular subject must have at least four years of total teaching experience as Assistant Professor after obtaining postgraduate degree following MBBS, in the subject in a college affiliated to a recognized medical college (by UGMEB of NMC)."
Further, in respect of the ongoing controversy regarding employing non-medical teachers in medical colleges, NMC in the recently released "Guidelines for Under Graduate Courses under Establishment of New Medical Institutions, Starting of New Medical Courses, Increase of Seats for Existing Courses & Assessment and Rating Regulations, 2023" clarified that only 15% of the total number of posts in Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry departments will be filled by non-medical teachers.
"In department of Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, non-medical teachers may be appointed to the extent of 15% of the total number of posts in the department subject to non-availability of medical teachers. The above mentioned non-medical teachers and the Statistician in the department of Community Medicine should possess qualification in that particular subject from a recognised University as per requirements in Teacher Eligibility Qualification Regulations," NMC stated in the new regulations.
Protesting against this, NMMTA has given a call for a protest on Monday i.e. August 21, 2023. In a recent Tweet, NMMTA mentioned, "Unfortunately, the @NMC_IND stands as one of the most prejudiced bodies in India today. Instead of practicing inclusivity, the UG board's policies favor exclusivity. It has transformed into an exclusive club of individuals nurturing prejudice and animosity towards non-MBBS teachers."
"This conduct is unbecoming of any regulatory authority, as it discriminates against and mistreats one class of teachers. We hold no confidence in the UG board and earnestly urge @PMOIndia & @MoHFW_INDIA to replace the board with impartial individuals who champion inclusivity and extend equitable treatment to both medical and non-medical teachers. Stand with us on 21st August in New Delhi as we protest against the NMC's discriminatory policies," the association further mentioned.
"Without a doubt, it's evident that the UG board of @NMC_IND holds biases and hostility towards non-MBBS teachers. Their every action seems directed at marginalizing and inconveniencing this group of educators. Under the guise of ensuring quality, they are engaged in endorsing and enforcing unjust discrimination (academic apartheid). It is inappropriate for any regulatory body to formulate and implement discriminatory guidelines targeting a specific group of its own teachers. We reemphasize our lack of confidence in the board's ability to treat us justly and impartially. Hence, we urge the government to take steps to replace it," the association mentioned in another Tweet.
Speaking to Medical Dialogues in this regard, the General Secretary of NMMTA, Dr. Ayan Das said, "We are organising this protest on 21st at Jantar Mantar and we have taken the due permissions. We are expecting people from all over the country. NMMTA is protesting against the continuous harassment, discrimination and bullying by the NMC towards the M.SC faculty. Even after being part of the system, they are treated very badly."
"They are not even allowing us to be examiners. NMC makes it mandatory for all the teachers in medical colleges to have a basic training in medical education and even we have done that training. The basic criteria of a teacher is that whatever you teach, you should be able to examine," he further added.
He further explained the how the non-medical teachers face huge discrimination while being employed even for a post of Tutor/demonstrator and mentioned that a PhD degree has been made equivalent to the undergraduate MBBS degree.
"Why don't they simply stop the courses? If the course is not there, nobody will join. Whoever is in the profession, or whoever is passing out, they will at least have the basic right to work in the medical college. Those who are in the profession already or are going to join in the coming years should have the basic dignity. This is creating a huge crisis among us. Our lives are destroyed and we are unable to concentrate in the basic work. Everyday is a fight to prove ourselves and save our jobs. How can we excel in the subject? How can we do research?" he questioned.
Modifications of the Rules for Appointing Non-Medical Graduates in Medical Colleges:
Medical Dialogues had been reporting about the issue concerning the appointment of non-medical teachers in non-clinical medical specialties. According to the erstwhile Medical Council of India's Teachers Eligibility and Qualification Guidelines, candidates with medical M.Sc/Ph.d qualifications could be appointed as teachers in five non-clinical specialities to 30% extent (50% for biochemistry) of the total faculty strength.
Back in 2020, after NMC took over MCI, it released a draft regarding Minimum Requirements for Annual MBBS admissions Regulations, 2020. The draft which was released initially for public feedback was along the lines of MCI norms. However, the finalized notification released through a gazetted notification on October 2020 halved the permissible percentage to 15% in Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry and completely removed for Pharmocology and Microbiology disciplines, which affected the Medical M.Sc/Ph.d community.
This resulted in a 65% reduction in Biochemistry, 50% in Anatomy and physiology, and 100% in Microbiology and Pharmacology. The reasons for such a move are thought to be the availability of sufficient medical teachers and the introduction of the new MBBS curriculum.
However, the amendments brought by NMC were heavily criticized by non-medical teachers and students pursuing MSc courses. Demanding immediate rollback of the guidelines, teachers and students had converged at Jantar Mantar under the banner of the National M.Sc Medical Teachers' Association (NMMTA) as a part of the nation-wide protest against the sudden reduction in the percentage of non-MBBS teachers. Raising slogans denouncing NMC, the teachers and students had sought Health Ministry's intervention in the matter.
After considering the documents and submissions made by NMMTA, the Central Government opined that "NMC may continue to adopt the old pattern of permissible percentage of non-medical teachers for the time being subject to outcome of the pending court case."
Consequently, NMC had also issued a public notice in this regard and mentioned, "In compliance of the above-mentioned directions issued by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare vide order dated 03.01.2022, the provisions regarding percentage of non-medical teachers/number of faculty in the Department of Anatomy, Physiology & Bio-Chemistry would continue as per the Minimum Qualifications for Teachers in Medical Institutions Regulations, 1998."
However, the matter remained unsolved due to pending court cases. Last year, filing an affidavit before the Delhi High Court, NMC reversed its stand on the reduction of permission percentage of "non-medical" teachers with medical M.Sc/Ph.D qualifications. The affidavit was filed in response to a plea filed by NMMTA and other associations and individuals on the guidelines published in the Minimum Requirements for Annual MBBS admissions Regulations, 2020.
Referring to the earlier order issued by the Union Health Ministry in this regard, the Under Secretary of NMC has mentioned in its affidavit dated August 30, 2022, "It is respectfully submitted that in so far as, the challenge to the Minimum Requirements for Annual MBBS Admissions Regulations 2020, and/or the Teachers Eligibility Qualifications in Medical Institutions Regulations, 2022 as raised in the present writ petition is concerned, the answering respondent after due consultation with the Central Govt. in various meetings, has decided to abide by the decision of the Central Government as communicated vide order dated 03.01.2022."
"The Central Govt. vide its order dated 03.01.2022, has decided that the answering respondent may continue to adopt the old pattern of permissible percentage non-medical teachers for the time being subject to the outcome of the various writ petitions pending adjudication before this Hon'ble Court," added NMC.
Also Read: Govt calls for amendment in NMC TEQ norms for non-medical teachers, NMMTA lauds move
Meanwhile, last year NMC also released Teachers Eligibility Qualifications in Medical Institutions Regulations, 2022. Since the eligibility for a non-medical faculty appointment in the Department of Pharmacology and Microbiology was not specified in the TEQ 2022 regulations, no appointments could be made for the posts. Therefore, NMMTA made an appeal to the Union Government to look into the matter.
Following the appeal from NMMTA, the central government issued direction to the NMC for bringing amendment in the Minimum Requirements for Annual MBBS Admissions Regulations, 2020, and Teachers Eligibility Qualifications in Medical Institutions Regulations, 2022.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued an order stating, "In view of the above stated issues and given that the reasons considered by the Central Government while passing earlier order dated 03.01.2022 continue to exist the following directions are issued to NMC in the present appeal subject to outcome of pending court cases in the matter: Appointment of non-medical faculty having M.Sc qualification may be allowed, for the time being, in the Departments of Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology and Microbiology to the extent of 30% of the total number of the posts in the Departments."
"Requisite Notification to bring amendment in the Minimum Requirements for Annual MBBS Admissions Regulations, 2020 and Teachers Eligibility Qualifications in Medical Institutions Regulations, 2022 may be issued by the respective Autonomous Board of the NMC and compliance thereof may be submitted to the Ministry within one month of issuance of this Order," it further added.
However, the directions issued by the Health Ministry have been strongly opposed by the medical fraternity across the country and doctors have started urging the authorities not to appoint non-medical graduates in the medical institutes.
Also Read: Medical MScs as Medical Faculty: NMMTA calls for co-existence amidst doctors protest
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