NMC extends relaxation on Provision of Appointment of External Examiners in the PGMER 2000
New Delhi: In light of the resurgence of COVID-19 cases across the country, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has extended relaxation in the Provision of Appointment of External Examiners in the Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations (PGMER), 2000.
The recent announcement comes in view of the several representations received by the apex medical regulator seeking an extension of the given relaxations.
Last year, Medical Dialogues had reported that the conduct of MD, MS exams, apart from other hurdles has seen a major issue in terms of appointment of External Examiners, that are necessary under the regulations. The Board of Governors had considered the representations from Universities across the country, wherein they have expressed their difficulties in getting External Examiners for the conduct of exams due to restriction in travel imposed due to the current Pandemic situation. The representations also had sought relaxation in the existing norms for the conduction of the exams regarding the appointment of External Examiners.
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Considering the said representations, the Board of Governors in Supersession of the erstwhile Medical Council of India (MCI BOG) had issued an advisory to all medical colleges announcing the temporary relaxation in the appointment of external examiners in the conduct of examinations in the light of COVID-19 outbreak.
Now, according to the advisory signed under the authority of the NMC Post Graduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) President Dr M.K. Ramesh, after receiving fresh requests by the Colleges/Universities beseeching extension of the said relaxations dated 22.05.2020, even after the post-COVID-19 re-opening of medical colleges in the country due to resurgence of COVID cases, the board has decided as under:
Appointment of Examiners:-
A. Universities must in the first instance try to adhere to the existing norms regarding External ' examiners as provided for in Regulations for Post Graduate Medical Education, 2000.
B. If option A is not feasible, Universities are advised to follow one of the following options with respect of external examiners for the postgraduate examinations considering the risk stratification of the areas where the Medical colleges/institutions are located, if external examiners are not available from outside the state due to the pandemic:-
i. External examiners to be selected from a different University in the State. These external examiners have to be physically present at the venue of the examination.
ii. In case of States having all the medical colleges under the same University i.e. State Health University, Medical Colleges may engage external examiners from any other college under the State Health University. Both of such external examiners should be physically present during the examination.
To view the official notice released by the NMC, click on the following link:
https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/nmc-150453.pdf
For more information, log on to the official website of NMC:
The National Medical Commission (NMC) has been constituted by an act of Parliament known as National Medical Commission Act, 2019 which came into force on 25.9.2020 by gazette notification dated 24.9.2020. The Board of Governors in supersession of Medical Council of India constituted under section 3A of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 stands dissolved thereafter.
