NMC warns medical colleges against 'fake patient practice' during inspections, issues guidelines

New Delhi: Noting that some medical colleges are indulging in admitting fake patients to fulfil the requirement of bed occupancy, investigations, etc, the National Medical Commission (NMC) issued strict guidelines to identify and act against the practice of 'fake patients' in medical colleges during inspections.

While inviting applications for the Establishment of a New Medical College or institution intending to offer MBBS courses and increase the number of UG seats in an established Medical College or Institution for the Academic year (AY) 2026-2027, the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) mentioned that, if any accessor detects fake patient during inspection then it may lead to ban on starting new courses or increasing seats for a certain period including penalty.

As per UGMSR 2023 and PGMSR 2024, MARB stated that the Medical College has to maintain a minimum clinical material /investigation workload, such as OPD, IPD, bed occupancy, surgery, etc., for the purpose of training the medical students.

"It has been observed that some medical colleges/institutions indulge in admitting fake patients (persons who do not require any treatment or inpatient treatment) to fulfil the requirement of bed occupancy, investigations, etc," mentioned the MARB notice.

MARB clarified that if an assessor finds signs of fake patients during inspection, it will be treated as “fake patient practice.” This will be considered a serious violation, and action will be taken under Chapter V (Sanctions and Penalty) of “Establishment of New Medical Institutions, Starting of New Medical Courses, Increase of Seats for Existing Courses & Assessment and Rating Regulations, 2023".

Further, if fake patients are found in even one PG department, it may raise suspicion about other PG departments as well, and the final decision will be taken accordingly.

Specifying actions, MARB stated that the detection of fake patients may lead to a ban on starting new courses or increasing seats for a certain period. It may also affect the renewal of existing UG and PG courses and attract penalties.

"Assessor’s remarks regarding fake patients in any of the inspected PG specialty of the medical college/institution will be suggestive of fake patient practice in all other PG specialties and hence the final decision will be taken accordingly. Detection of fake patients may result in barring the institution from starting of new course/s or increase in intake of seats in existing course/s for a period to be specified by MARB. Also, such detection of fake patients may impact renewal of UG and existing PG courses along with attracting suitable penalty," it said.

According to the existing rules, the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) of NMC, which conducts inspections and grants permissions for establishing new medical colleges, launching new postgraduate courses, and increasing seat capacity.

Guidelines for identifying fake patients:

The following will be the guidelines to identify fake patients:

• A Large number of patients were admitted on the day of assessment or the previous day.
• Such recently/previously admitted patients who have no/minor/insignificant ailments/problems that can be treated on outpatient (OPD) basis with oral medications.
• Patients who are admitted without any evidence of investigations such as XRay, blood tests etc. (before or after admission) or without any in-patient treatment such as Intravenous (IV) cannula, injections, catheterization, medications etc. which is generally required for admitted patients.
• In Pediatric wards, most of the admitted children were playful and joyous without any significant problem.
• Multiple patients from the same family were admitted.
• Patients were admitted in large numbers through preventive health checkups/camps.
• Any other justifiable observation of assessor.
• If the assessor finds fake patients, he may document them in a below mentioned table and collect relevant documentary evidences.

Also read- NMC flags 'fake patient' during inspection, HC stays Santiniketan Medical College PG course