75 percent Attendance Must before grant of leave to Doctors: DME orders medical colleges

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the National Medical Commission (NMC) slapped show-cause notices on Government medical colleges in Tamil Nadu for deficiencies in faculty and services, including labs and surgeries. The action was reportedly taken against all the government medical colleges in Tamil Nadu, except Madras Medical College and Govt Coimbatore Medical College, and Hospital.

Among the 36 Government medical colleges (GMCs) in the State, these colleges reportedly had a shortage of staff in up to 95% of the departments, including the departments of general medicine, general surgery, orthopaedics, and dermatology. This was the most common deficiency that NMC highlighted in the show-cause notices issued to these medical colleges.

Finally, earlier this month, the Apex Medical Commission granted conditional approval to all 36 GMCs in Tamil Nadu, including those which had earlier received a show-cause. Earlier, TN officials informed that there were problems in implementing the Aadhaar-enabled biometric attendance system, which was being corrected.

As per the latest media report by The New Indian Express, in its recent communication to the Deans of the GMCs, the State DME mentioned that the AEBAS data revealed deficient attendance of faculty, residents, and tutors across all departments in the GMCs at Kanniyakumari, Ramanathapuram, Nilgiris, and Karur. In the case of Stanley Medical College, shockingly, 16 out of 20 departments were found to be deficient. In Chengalpattu GMC, 19 out of 20 departments, and in Omandurar GMC, 15 out of 20 departments recorded inadequate attendance.

The AEBAS data revealed that back in April, 581 doctors had collectively logged in for only 344 hours at the Chengalpattu Medical College, with 37 clocking in for less than one minute and 23 for less than ten minutes.

Altogether 16 out of 20 departments in Coimbatore Medical College reported deficiencies, along with faculty shortages in two departments and a shortage of senior resident in 13 departments.

"A detailed action plan and written assurance have already been submitted to the NMC. For that, monitoring AEBAS, department-wise and college-wise, in all 36 GMCs is necessary to prevent attendance-related deficiencies as mentioned in the conditional renewal," DME Theranirajan said.

"Due to the persistent lack of minimum required faculty in 11 colleges, the NMC directed a personal hearing at the commission, during which the health secretary and DME appeared and submitted a written assurance to rectify the deficiencies. Considering this, the NMC has granted conditional renewal of MBBS seats, with the condition that all deficiencies must be rectified within four months. If not, stringent action will be initiated," added the DME.

DT Next has reported that recently, issuing a circular to the Deans of medical colleges, the DME directed to ensure 75% attendance of the faculty members and mentioned, "The deans and principals must monitor the attendance percentage of all the faculty and residents (individual-wise, cadre-wise, department-wise and overall) and ensure the attendance over and above 75 per cent before grant of leave other than emergency situation."

As per DT Next, the colleges include Stanley Medical College, Madras Medical College, Kilpauk Medical College, Chengalpattu Medical College, Coimbatore Medical College, and Thanjavur Medical College.

Many college authorities have acknowledged the issue and while commenting on the matter, the Dean of Coimbatore Medical College Dr A Nirmala mentioned that they have held meetings instructing faculty to meet the 75 per cent minimum requirement and they are also requesting the higher officials to fill the vacancies identified by the NMC.

Commenting on the matter, a dean from a city government college added, "The explanation has already been given to the NMC, and the issues would be sorted out soon."

Also Read: Facing Scrutiny over deficiencies, TN Medical Colleges reply to NMC notices