Student association condemns NMC penalties on Karnataka medical colleges

The NMC recently levied fines on several medical institutions in the state due to shortcomings in infrastructure and faculty. This move has sparked outrage among student groups who believe the penalties are unjust and detrimental to the quality of medical education.

In a press release, All India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO), Mysuru stated, “NMC has issued notice to several medical colleges in the state, penalizing them for not reaching the prescribed standard required to run a medical college. 13 Government medical colleges and 11 private medical colleges have been penalized in the state with penalized sums ranging from 2 lahk to 15 lakhs!!! Though the medical colleges must maintain prescribed standards, imposing penal sums on them is highly undemocratic.”

“This approach of NMC is against the very object of Quality Education. If the number of faculty is less and the infrastructure does not meet the necessary standards then it is the bounded duty of all authorities to own up to the responsibility of filling up vacancies and providing adequate funds for developing infrastructure, especially in Government Medical Colleges,” the press release added.

Talking to medical dialogues AIDSO Mysore district President Subhash has pointed out that several reports have mentioned the dire state of government medical colleges in the state. “Yet neither the state governments nor the NMC has suggested this or made any moves in this regard! Rather state government is trying to push NRI quota in Government Medical College to mint money instead of providing financial assistance to improve quality."

The association stated that it is a way of washing off hands from taking responsibility for improving medical education in the country. The association also added, “AIDSO Karnataka condemns this approach of NMC and demands state government to immediately grant adequate funds for Medical Education. Penalising an education institution for no mistake of its, but of those who govern should never become a norm as it destroys very essence of Education.”

Previously Medical Dialogues reported that taking serious cognizance of poor infrastructure and deficiency in facilities, at least 27 medical College as across the state of Karnataka including several government institutions, have been penalised by the National Medical Commission. This came after NMC introduced the provisions of monetary penalty in the maintenance of standards of Medical Education Regulations, 2023.