NMC takes cognizance of GMERS tragedy

New Delhi: Taking cognizance of the instances of ragging in the medical colleges including the tragic event at GMERS Medical College and Hospital, Dharpur, where an 18-year-old first-year MBBS student died, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has now issued directions to the medical colleges across the country to ensure strict implementation of the anti-ragging measures in the country.

NMC has asked the medical colleges to implement robust anti-ragging mechanisms as outlined in the Regulations, 2021 including setting up anti-ragging squads, ensuring awareness among faculty and staff, submitting annual anti-ragging reports timely, establishing a safe and conducive learning environment etc.

The Postgraduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) of NMC issued these directions after the menace of ragging claimed the life of an 18-year-old MBBS student at GMERS Medical College, Dharpur.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported about the disturbing incident of ragging at GMERS Dharpur-Patan, where the first-year medico died after allegedly being made to stand for three hours during ragging by his seniors at the college hostel. Altogether 15 seniors were suspended in this connection and booked in a criminal case.

Also Read: Gujarat Horror: MBBS student dies after ragging by seniors, forced to stand for 3 hours

Referring to this incident, the NMC PG Board recently wrote to the Principals/Directors/Deans of Medical Colleges/Institutes imparting UG and PG Courses and mentioned, "The National Medical Commission (NMC) has taken serious cognizance of ragging incidents, including the recent tragic event at GMERS Medical College and Hospital, Dharpur, involving the death of an 18-year-old first-year MBBS student. This incident has not only attracted significant attention from the media but also been reported to the UGC Anti-Ragging Helpline. Such occurrences highlight the urgent need for stringent implementation of antiragging measures to ensure students' safety and well-being. Ragging violates physical, moral and legal boundaries, and such incidents severely tarnish the reputation of academic institutions."

Highlighting the rising incidents of ragging, NMC mentioned how it continues to receive numerous complaints regarding ragging involving Undergraduate (UG) and Postgraduate (PG) students.

According to NMC, these complaints include cases of mental harassment and even instances leading to suicide. Reports are received through the NMC’s Anti-Ragging Cell (antiragging@nmc.org.in), the UGC Anti-Ragging Helpline, and social and print media, the Commission mentioned.

"Commonly reported acts include disorderly conduct, teasing, coercion, and undisciplined activities. The NMC engages regularly with medical institutions through video conferences to address these concerns," NMC mentioned.

Regulations for the Prevention of Ragging:

NMC mentioned how it issued Prevention and Prohibition of Ragging in Medical Colleges and Institutions Regulations 2021 (Notification No. UGMEB/NMC/Rules & Regulations/2021, dated 18th November 2021).

Key clauses of these Regulations include:

Clause 5: Duties and responsibilities of institutions to prohibit and prevent ragging.

Clause 6: Specific measures to prohibit ragging.

Clause 7: Preventive measures to stop ragging within campuses.

Clause 12: Role of Anti-Ragging Squads in identifying indirect evidence of ragging.

NMC mentioned that despite these regulations, lapses in compliance has been observed, including- Inadequate monitoring mechanisms, absence of Anti-Ragging Squads, failure to submit Annual Anti-Ragging Reports, insufficient steps to eradicate ragging effectively. Such non-compliance undermines the regulatory framework and poses risk to students' safety and institutional integrity.

Accordingly, NMC strongly urged all the medical colleges to implement robust anti-ragging mechanisms as outlined in the Regulations, 2021 as follows:

♦ Constitute and activate Anti-Ragging Squads to monitor and identify ragging activities.

♦ Ensure widespread awareness among faculty, staff, and students about anti-ragging policies.

♦ Submit annual Anti-Ragging Reports in a timely manner.

♦ Establish a safe and conducive learning environment, free from any form of harassment.

To view the NMC notice, click on the link below:

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/nmc-anti-ragging-264252.pdf

Also Read: NMC to probe ragging allegations surfaced from GMC Omandurar