What happens when medical colleges fail quality norms? Health Ministry lists NMC measures in Parliament
New Delhi: While discussing the measures implemented by the National Medical Commission (NMC) to enhance the quality of medical education in the country, the Union Minister of State for Health, Smt Anupriya Patel, also specified before the Rajya Sabha about the consequences faced by the medical colleges across India when they fail such quality norms.
As per the Minister, colleges found deficient in any of the parameters, including faculty, infrastructure, or clinical requirements, are issued show-cause notices and asked to submit compliance reports and further evaluations are conducted based on these submissions. If the colleges are found guilty of any major non-compliance, they are imposed with monetary penalties and reduction of MBBS seats etc.
The Minister provided these details while responding to the queries raised by Parliament member Shri C. VE. Shanmugam, who sought to know whether the National Medical Commission was aware that the quality of medical education was being diluted in many medical colleges across the country, and also about the steps being taken by the Government to ensure the quality of medical education is being imparted to students all across the country.
In response, Minister Patel informed that NMC is an apex statutory body constituted by an act of Parliament, entrusted with the responsibility of regulating and overseeing medical education and practice across the country.
"The Commission has undertaken several measures to enhance the quality of medical education in the country, in accordance with the Maintenance of Standards of Medical Education Regulations, 2023 (MSMER 2023). Significantly, as per MSMER 2023, all existing medical colleges submit their Annual Declaration Reports (ADRs) online through the NMC portal. These reports are scrutinized by expert panels. Colleges found deficient in faculty, infrastructure, or clinical requirements are issued Show Cause Notices and asked to submit compliance reports. Further evaluations are conducted based on these submissions. State Government authorities and college administrations are apprised of deficiencies. In cases of major non-compliance, monetary penalties and reduction of MBBS seats are imposed," she stated.
The Minister also talked about the measures being implemented by the Postgraduate Medical Education Board and added, "Moreover, the Postgraduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB), under the Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations, 2023 (PGMER 2023), has implemented measures such as notification of training programs including district residency programs and examination/evaluation criteria; specification of clinical workload, faculty-student ratios, and bed/faculty requirements for postgraduate courses; and maintenance of standards through annual evaluations, imposition of penalties, and provision of an appeal mechanism."
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that last year, releasing the FAQs on recognition of medical qualification regulations 2023, NMC had informed that all the concerned institutions/ colleges/ students/ stake holders shall have to follow “Maintenance of Standards of Medical Education Regulations, 2023” called MSMER-23 dated 19.09.2023, for continuation of such recognition of the degree/ qualification awarded to already permitted seats in a given college under its affiliated university.
