NMC directs State Medical Councils to register additional qualifications of PG medicos
New Delhi: Taking cognisance of the grievances of PG medical students stating that their additional qualifications are not being registered even though they fall in the first four batches of starting/increased intake of seats, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has once again reiterated its directions in this regard to the State Medical Councils.
Writing to the State Medical Councils, the Post Graduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) of NMC directed the Apex Medical Bodies in the States to register the first four batches of PG degree courses and three batches of PG Diploma courses admitted against the seats which are shown as permitted on the Commission's website.
This comes after the Commission's directions issued to the State Medical Councils last year in June. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that in response to the queries of PG medicos who had been facing issues with the registration of their qualifications with respective medical councils, NMC had directed all the State Medical Councils to register additional qualifications of the first four batches of PG degree (MD,MS) and three batches of PG diploma courses against permitted seats.
Last year NMC issued this direction after receiving several representations from the SMCs for knowing the status of recognition of seats shown as permitted on the NMC's website as they require the same for registering the additional qualifications.
Referring to last year's directions, NMC once again wrote to the State Medical Councils on September 01, 2023 and mentioned, "Post Graduate Medical Education Board vide letter No. NMC/MCI-23(1)/2022-Med/022871 dated 23.6.2022 (copy enclosed) had requested all the State Medical Councils to register the first four batches of PG degree courses after starting/increased intake of seats and three batches of PG diploma courses admitted against the seats which are shown as permitted on NMC's website. The same was reiterated during. the meeting with State Medical Councils, held at the Commission on 15.6.2023."
The Commission also referred to the grievances from the students in this regard and mentioned, "However, this Board is still in receipt of a number of grievances from students stating that their additional qualifications are not being registered as their seats have been shown as permitted on NMC's website even though they fall in the first four batches of starting/ increased intake of seats."
Directing the SMCs to register the first four batches of PG degree courses and three batches of PG diploma courses admitted against the permitted seats, NMC further mentioned, "All the State Medical Councils are therefore once again requested to register first four batches of PG degree courses and three batches of PG diploma courses admitted against the seats which are shown as permitted on NMC's website. This issues with the approval of the Competent Authority."
In October, 2021, the NMC announced provisional recognition of one more year to PG medical qualifications for the 2020-21 academic session.
As per para 6(2) of the Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000, "The Institution shall apply for recognition of the Post Graduate Medical qualification to the Central Government through the affiliating University when the first admitted batch shall be due to appear for the examination to be conducted by the affiliating University".
Given the COVID Pandemic, some medical colleges were inspected physically, some by virtual mode, and the rest had submitted sworn affidavits.
Therefore, the apex medical regulator had noted that the system of physical inspection at the time of examination could not be followed as prescribed by the regulation and therefore, the process of recognition of new PG courses, recognition against the increased intake of PG courses and renewal of recognition of PG courses could not be completed.
In these circumstances, the National Medical Commission had allowed provisional recognition of all PG medical courses for a period of one year. It had additionally extended the duration for recognized postgraduate qualifications including recognition of or against increased intake or renewal of recognition of the academic year 2020-21.
At that time, the apex medical regulator had also directed the state medical councils to register all the PG courses which are shown as Permitted on the National Medical Commission (NMC) website and, PG students have passed during the academic year 2020-21.
However, after the NMC came in receipt of a number of requests from State Medical Councils to know the status of recognition of seats which are shown as permitted on the NMC's website as mandated, last year it directed them to register additional qualifications of the first four batches of PG degree courses and three batches of PG diploma courses admitted against the permitted seats.
To view the NMC notice, click on the link below:
https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/nmc-additional-qualifications-218125.pdf
