19 of 54 NMC posts vacant: Health Minister tells Parliament

New Delhi: Nearly one-third of the approved positions in the National Medical Commission (NMC) are currently vacant, as per data shared by the Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Anupriya Patel in the Rajya Sabha.

The total sanctioned strength across the apex medical regulator and its autonomous boards is 54 posts, of which 35 are filled, while 19 remain vacant. These vacant posts include the posts of Presidents of the Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) and the Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB).

Besides, the posts of two whole-time and two part-time members of the NMC UG board and two whole-time and one part-time members of the PG Board, along with two whole-time and one part-time members of the Medical Assessment and Rating Board and two whole-time and two part-time members of the Ethics & Medical Registration Board are also lying vacant.

According to the details provided by the Ministry, the Commission itself has 33 sanctioned posts, with 28 in position and 5 vacant. The Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) has 5 sanctioned posts, but only 1 member is currently in position, leaving 4 vacancies.

Similarly, the Postgraduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) has 5 sanctioned posts, of which 2 are filled and 3 are vacant. The Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) also has 5 sanctioned posts, with 2 in position and 3 vacant. The Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) has 5 sanctioned posts, but only 1 member is in position, leaving 4 vacancies.

Also read- What has been done to fill 19 vacant NMC posts? Health Ministry Faces Tough Questions in Parliament

The Minister shared the information while responding to questions raised by parliament member Shri Vivek K Tankha who sought to know the sanctioned strength of the National Medical Commission (NMC) and its four autonomous boards under the National Medical Commission Act, 2019 and the number of posts presently lying vacant, board-wise and post-wise, the manner in which the NMC is presently discharging its statutory duties relating to regulation of medical education, ethics, accreditation and disciplinary control in the absence of a majority of members, including near-vacancies in key boards; and the details of delays, backlogs or regulatory gaps arising from such vacancies; and the steps taken and timelines fixed for filling these posts to ensure effective functioning of the NMC as envisaged under the Act

In response, Patel informed that the sanctioned strength of the commission is 54, out of which 19 posts are vacant. She further stated that the Commission has informed that appropriate institutional mechanisms are in place to ensure the continued discharge of its statutory responsibilities relating to the regulation of undergraduate and postgraduate medical education, ethics, and accreditation, in accordance with the provisions of the National Medical Commission Act, 2019 (NMC, Act).

"Further, filling-up of vacancies is a continuous process and action is taken as per provisions of the NMC, Act to fill up the vacant posts including issue of advertisements from time to time," said Patel.

Details of the incumbency position of the National Medical Commission and its Autonomous Boards:

Also read- 5 of 33 NMC posts vacant: Health Minister tells Parliament