How many leaves allowed for PG medical students? NMC specifies in PGMER FAQs
New Delhi: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has recently specified how many leaves a medico can take while pursuing PG medical courses.
According to a recent NMC notification, PG medical students are allowed "weekly one-day off (subject to exigencies of work). In addition, they are eligible for twenty days of Paid Casual Leave. Five days of Academic Leave per year, if availed by a student will be counted as duty. Thus, a student is entitled to 52 weekly offs and 20 Paid Casual Leave per year."
"Female post-graduate students shall be allowed maternity leave as per existing government rules and regulations. Male post-graduate students shall be allowed paternity leave as per existing government rules and regulations. However, the period of training will be extended by the same number of days for which maternity/paternity leave have been availed," the NMC notice said.
The Postgraduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) of the NMC issued this clarification while answering the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding PGMER 2023 published in the official Gazette on 01.01.2024.
Also Read: Final PGMER 2023 Regulations released in Gazette, details
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the final Post-Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2023 (PGMER 2023), which were published in the official Gazette on 29.12.2023, laid down the rules and regulations regarding admission, counselling, and other details related to the postgraduate medical courses.
Referring to these regulations, the PG Medical Education Board (PGMEB) of NMC mentioned in a recent notice dated 10.04.2024, "National Medical Commission (NMC) had notified the Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations-2023 (PGMER-23), which was published in official Gazette on.01.01.2024. Post Graduate Medical Education Board, NMC has received request from stakeholders seeking clarifications on some of the provisions of PGMER-23. Accordingly, the doubts/ queries raised by the various stakeholders have been duly examined and point-wise clarifications is enclosed as Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)."
The Commission has answered various questions regarding PGMER 2023 including the number of leaves allowed for the Postgraduate students, extension of the PG medical course in case of long leaves, posting of students during the mandatory District Residency Programme (DRP), evaluation process for dissertations and viva voce examination, the process of maintaining logbooks, mandatory skills that the PG students need to undergo before appearing in exams, who will conduct the such courses, applicability of PGMER 2023 etc.
Addressing these various questions, NMC issued the following clarifications:
1. How much leave is allowed for Post-graduate students?
Weekly one-day off (subject to exigencies of work). In addition, they are eligible for twenty days Paid Casual Leave. Five days Academic Leave per year, if availed by a student will be counted as duty. Thus, a student is entitled to 52 weekly offs and 20 Paid Casual Leave per year.
Female post-graduate students shall be allowed maternity leave as per existing government rules and regulations. Male post-graduate students shall be allowed paternity leave as per existing government rules and regulations. However, period of training will be extended by the same number of days for which maternity/paternity leave have been availed.
2. If a post-graduate student avails long leave, when can they complete the course? When can they appear in the examination?
A. For Three-Year Course: Total days in a three-year course will be 1095 days. So the total working days will be 939 days after deducting weekly offs (52 x 3 years = 156 days). A student will require 80 per cent attendance of working days (i.e. 751 days of 939 days) for appearing in the examination. However, period of training will be extended by the same number of days for which maternity/paternity leave and total excess casual leave have been availed in three years.
B. For Two-Year Course: Total days in a two-year course will be 730 days. So the total working days will be 626 days after deducting weekly offs (52 x 2 years = 104 days). A student will require 80 per cent attendance of working days (i.e. 501 days of 730 days) for appearing in the examination. However, period of training will be extended by the same number of days for which maternity/paternity leave and total excess casual leave have been availed in two years.
3. Where can students be posted during the District Residency Programme (DRP)?
PG students can be posted in Public Sector/Government-funded District Hospital, Community Health Centre (CHC), Primary Health Centre (PHC), Sub-Health Centre, Urban Health Centre and Community Outreach System in a District, etc as per the PGMER 2023 for training requirements. However, posting in any post-graduate medical institution or super specialty hospital is not permitted.
4. Can PG students be posted in Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) hospitals under the District Residency Programme (DRP)?
Yes, PG students can be posted in those ESIC hospitals which are not running any post graduate medical institutions or Super Speciality hospitals.
5. Can students be posted in other States/UTs under the DRP?
In case all the Post-graduate Residents of a State/UT cannot be absorbed within their respective state/union territory, they can be posted to other States/Union Territories with mutual agreement of respective Governments after the approval of the Post-Graduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) of National Medical Commission (NMC).
It shall be permissible for the post-graduate students from the North East Zone (NEZ) in various medical colleges/institutions in the country, to undergo District Residency Programme in their respective States.
6. How will dissertations be evaluated, and what is the process for viva voce examination?
Five per cent (20 marks) of the total marks of Clinical/Practical and Viva Voce marks will be for dissertation/thesis and it will be part of clinical/practical examination (Clinical/Practical -280 marks; Dissertation/Thesis — 20 marks; Viva Voce — 100 marks). External examiner outside the state will evaluate dissertation/ thesis and take viva voce on it and marks will be given on quality of dissertation/thesis and performance on its viva voce.
This regulation will be applicable for all those students appearing in the forthcoming post graduate examination.
7. How the PG students should prepare and maintain their logbooks?
The PG students from 2023-24 batch will maintain log book digitally.
8. Is it mandatory for all PG students to complete course in Ethics and in Cardiac Life Support Skill?
All the PG students admitted from 2021 and after will have to complete course before appearing in the examination.
9. Who will design and conduct the courses in Ethics and in Cardiac Life Support Skills?
The courses in Ethics and Cardiac Life Support Skills will be designed and conducted by the Academic Cell of the respective medical college/institution till further directions.
10. Post-Graduate Medical Education Regulation, 2023 (PGMER-2023) was notified on 29th December, 2023 and PG-MSR was hosted on the NMC website on 16.01.2024. When will they be applicable for starting the PG courses/increase of the PG seats?
All applications for starting the PG courses/increase of the PG seats received in NMC from 16.01.2024 onwards.
11. Does the college require to apply for recognition of PG seats?
As per PGMER-2023, once permitted, the course for the qualification will be considered recognised and seats permitted will be considered as recognised seats for registration of the degree awarded. Medical colleges/institutions running such courses will be considered as accredited medical colleges/institutions for the said course of qualification. And all permitted seats will be considered as recognised seats. Therefore, medical colleges/institutions need not apply for recognition of PG course. Colleges/institutions shall submit an Annual Self-Declaration as per the requirement of MSMER-2023 regulations. For the current year, the Post-graduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) will soon issue a public notice for the medical colleges/institutions to submit their Annual Self-Declaration for the year 2023 (01.01.2023 to 31.12.2023).
To view the FAQs, click on the link below:
https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/faqs-on-pgmer-2023-236046.pdf
Also Read: PGMER 2023: PG Medicos must Fulfill these Conditions to Appear in Final Exam, Details
