71 WB medical colleges slapped NMC notices in 2 years: Health Minister tells Parliament

Kolkata: The Union Health Ministry has flagged widespread violations of National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines across West Bengal, revealing that a total of 71 medical colleges- both government and private- have been found deficient over the last two academic years.

In a written reply to Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel informed that 34 medical colleges in the academic year 2024-25 and 37 colleges in 2025–26 were found lacking in terms of faculty, infrastructure, and clinical parameters. Show-cause notices were issued to all of them, and in several cases, monetary penalties were imposed. For 2025–26, MBBS seat renewals were granted conditionally after reviewing compliance reports.

Among the most serious violations, Sanjiban Hospital and Medical College in Howrah was found operating without NMC approval. An alert was issued on May 19, 2025, cautioning students and parents against enrolling in unapproved institutions falsely claiming recognition.

Further disciplinary action came from the Post Graduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB), which penalized several colleges for faculty shortages, infrastructure gaps, and biometric attendance system violations. Seat reductions were imposed under the Maintenance of Standards of Medical Education Regulations, 2023.

MP Samik Bhattacharya sought to know- a) whether Government is aware of violations of National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines by private medical colleges in West Bengal; b) the details of such violations over the last three years, including any institutions operating without approval; c) whether Sanjiban Hospital and Medical College, Howrah, has been found operating without NMC approval and the legal action initiated in this regard; d) the number of private and Government medical colleges in West Bengal received penalties, show‑cause notices, or threats of seat reduction for non‑compliance with infrastructure, faculty, stipend, or data‑submission norms; and e) the steps taken to protect students enrolled in such institutions?

In response, the Union Minister Anupriya Patel on Tuesday informed Parliament, "As informed by National Medical Commission (NMC), 34 medical colleges (Government & Private) in academic year 2024-25 and 37 medical colleges (Government & Private) in academic year 2025-26 of West Bengal were found deficient with respect to Faculty/ infrastructure/ other clinical parameters and Show Cause notices were issued to them. Accordingly, for the A.Y. 2024-25 as per the nature of deficiencies, monetary penalties were also imposed on these col1eges and for the A.Y. 2025-26 based on the compliance reports submitted by these colleges, conditional renewal of MBBS seats have been granted."

She further stated that Sanjiban Hospital and Medical College in West Bengal has been cited for operating without the necessary approval from the NMC. Accordingly, an advisory/alert note on 19/05/2025 was issued including the name of Sanjiban Hospital and Medical College. Further, Post Graduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) of NMC also while scrutinizing the recognition/ renewal of recognition applications for the year 2022 had observed deficiencies primarily relating to the faculty/ infrastructure/AEBAS and penalized some colleges by reducing the number of seats for AY 2024-25 under the provisions of Maintenance of Standards of Medical Education Regulations, 2023 (MSMER-2023) and erstwhile Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations, (PGMER-2000).

"Under Graduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) of NMC vide its Advisory dated 19.5.2025 has issued alert to all concerned stakeholders against unauthorized medical colleges operating in the country without requisite approvals from NMC and misleading students and parents by claiming recognition and offering admissions in medical courses that are not legally sanctioned," she added.

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As per data tabled in the Rajya Sabha, several prominent government medical colleges in West Bengal faced penalties from the National Medical Commission (NMC) due to various deficiencies. These include shortages in faculty, infrastructure gaps, inadequate surgical load, and non-compliance with standards such as biometric attendance.

Institutions like Bankura Sammilani Medical College, Midnapore Medical College, and Burdwan Medical College saw reductions in postgraduate seats across key departments including General Surgery, Anesthesiology, Pediatrics, and General Medicine. Even prestigious colleges such as IPGMER, Medical College Kolkata, and RG Kar Medical College were not spared, with courses like Obstetrics & Gynecology and Respiratory Medicine witnessing seat cuts. The seat reductions were ordered between December 2023 and April 2024, under the provisions of the Maintenance of Standards of Medical Education Regulations, 2023, signaling the government’s firm stance on enforcing quality standards in medical education.

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