Medical College assessment reports matter raised in Parliament, Centre cites NMC website disclosures
New Delhi: The Union Health Minister Anupriya Patel informed the Lok Sabha that all information relating to colleges, recognition of courses, seat matrix, regulations, application process, services provided to UG/PG graduates/doctors, admissions, annual renewal of medical colleges, counselling process, etc. are proactively displayed on the National Medical Commission (NMC) website.
The Minister shared the information in response to a question raised by a parliament member who sought to know whether the National Medical Commission (NMC) has stopped uploading the Annual Medical College Assessment Reports on its official website.
During the session, Patel was asked the reasons for withholding these reports for each academic year despite multiple orders issued by the Central Information Commission (CIC) directing NMC to upload them annually; whether the Government is aware that the erstwhile Medical Council of India (MCI) used to proactively publish such complete assessment and inspection reports in compliance with the section 4 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 and the steps being taken by the Government to ensure transparency and timely publication of all medical college assessment reports so that students choosing medical colleges can make an informed choice based on the availability of adequate faculty, infrastructure and patient load.
In response, Patel informed that "As informed by the National Medical Commission (NMC), all information relating to colleges, recognition of courses, seat matrix, regulations, application process, services provided to UG/PG graduates/doctors, admissions, annual renewal of medical colleges, counselling process etc. is proactively displayed on the NMC website and informed to all stakeholders through public notices issued from time to time."
She further stated that the information sought pertains to specific details relating to colleges which fall within the ambit of third-party information under the provisions of the Right to Information Act, 2005. Therefore, disclosure of such information is legally restricted, particularly where it involves personal, confidential, or commercially sensitive data, and legal opinion is being sought by NMC on this aspect.
"The Commission is fully committed to implement its statutory obligations & adhere to the provisions of the Right to Information Act and the CIC's order," the Minister added.
Medical Dialogues had previously reported that the Central Information Commission (CIC) directed the National Medical Commission (NMC) to regularly upload the assessment reports of all the medical colleges on the NMC website, in compliance with the provisions of Section 4 of the RTI Act to boost transparency and in the larger public interest concerning the quality of medical education in the country.
Also read- Make Medical College Assessment reports public: CIC gives deadline to National Medical Commission
