PGDCC holders get NMC recognition as Clinical Cardio physicians! 'This will be a game changer', say doctors

New Delhi: In a landmark decision, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has granted its recognition to the Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Cardiology (PGDCC) course holders till their last batch, revising their designation as "Clinical Cardio-Physician (Non-Invasive) PGDCCP (IN), offered through Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).

With the Apex Medical Commission's decision, around 20 years of legal battles to formalise the programme came to an end, the Indian Association of Clinical Cardiologists (IACC) confirmed this major decision during a press conference at the Constitution Club of India.

Now, a total of 1706 clinical cardiologists will be able to offer their services, and it will be a game changer in rural cardiology development, Dr. Rajesh Rajan, Chairman of the Board of Governors for the Indian Association of Clinical Cardiologists (IACC), told Medical Dialogues.

The PGDCC course was commenced in 2006 by the IGNOU to develop a cadre of non-interventional cardiologists, and involved a "two-year full-time rigorous training in top cardiac hospitals in the country". In order to be eligible to apply for the PGDCC course, a candidate was required to have an MBBS degree. However, ever since the course was announced, it had been facing hardships in securing recognition from the Apex Medical Education regulatory body in the country.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that despite thousands of candidates clearing the course from the year 2006 to 2013, the erstwhile Medical Council of India (MCI) had noted that the IGNOU had commenced the PGDCC course in blatant violation of the applicable rules and regulations of medical education and that, therefore, there could be no question of according any recognition to the said course.

After the Association of Clinical Cardiologists sought relief in this regard from the Delhi High Court, MCI was directed to reconsider the issue. However, MCI decided that the PGDCC programme offered by IGNOU cannot be recommended for inclusion in the First Schedule of the IMC Act, 1956, for batches admitted from 2006 to 2013 admission cycle. Later NMC, which replaced MCI, also refused to grant recognition to the PGDCC course.

NMC Recognition:

In a major relief to the PGDCC degree holders, NMC has now granted its recognition for the said course until the last batch in 2013. In an Office Memorandum dated 08.05.2025, NMC referred to the Union Health Ministry's order dated 03.02.2025 and mentioned, "The undersigned is directed to refer to Ministry of Health & Family Welfare’s Order No. Z.20015/121/2019-ME-I-Part(1)(FTS: 8140909) dt. 3.2.2025 and NMC’s letters No. CDN-20011/39/2024-COORD-NMC dated 10.03.2025 and 9.4.2025 addressed to IGNOU (copies enclosed) on the above mentioned subject and to convey that the agenda for “Post facto approval of NMC for Retrospective Recognition of the Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Cardiology (PGDCC) program initiated by the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) in 2006 until the last batch in 2013” was circulated for approval to NMC members vide mail dated 10.4.2025 which has been subsequently approved."

Granting recognition to the said course, NMC further added, "Accordingly, the PGDCC Diploma awarded by IGNOU in respect of students enrolled from 2006 upto 2013 shall be a recognised qualification with revised designation titled as "Clinical Cardio-Physician (Non-Invasive)" along with its institution “School of Health Sciences, IGNOU”, subject to the conditions outlined vide MoHFW's 2nd Appeal Order dt. 3.2.2025 and vide NMC's letters dt. 10.3.2025 & 9.4.2025 addressed to IGNOU."

The Commission clarified that the qualification shall be included by the PGMEB in accordance with Section 35(1) of NMC Act, 2019, in the First Schedule / list of medical qualifications maintained by the Board in such manner, as specified by the regulations. EMRB (Registration Division) shall facilitate the on-line applications filed by the concerned medicos for registration of the above qualification as additional qualification, subject to the conditions conveyed vide NMC's letters dated. 10.3.2025 and 09.04.2025 to IGNOU.

Even though NMC had granted the recognition last year, finally, after the verification process, the PGDCC degree holders have successfully registered their additional qualification with the NMC and have received their final NMC registration certificate from the Commission only now.

Speaking about the procedure, Dr. Rajesh Rajan, Chairman of the Board of Governors for the Indian Association of Clinical Cardiologists (IACC), told Medical Dialogues, "After the order from NMC, you need to apply to the NMC portal and submit various documents, and your name should be included in the Indian Medical Register. We did that. Then NMC verified the initial MBBS registration, the newly submitted degree from the University, and they also verified the good standing from the State Medical Council. After that, NMC adds the additional qualification to the Indian Medical Register and provides the registration certificate. We got the final certificate only 15 days ago."

Dr. Rajan thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda for solving the long-pending issue of recognition of the PGDCC degree holders and said, "First of all, I would like to congratulate and thank our PM Modiji and Health Minister J. P. Nadda ji for the courageous action because we have met almost six or seven health ministers before. All these health ministers used to ask why the previous minister did not approve. Finally, Nadda ji took such a big, bold decision."

Impact on the Healthcare System in India:

According to the Indian Association of Clinical Cardiologists, this two-year post-MBBS program aims to address a critical gap. During the Press Conference, the association discussed how rural and semi-urban India continue to face a severe shortage of cardiology specialists.

"Today’s announcement, speakers noted, provides a direct and structural solution to this pressing medical shortfall. Cardiovascular diseases are the cause of nearly 28 percent of all deaths in India. Public health datasets show this grim reality. The crisis is far more than alarming. Indians are developing heart problems before age 50. Lifestyle risk factors are rising fast. Heart disease incidence in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities is increasing. Is Indian healthcare system equipped for this burden? The short answer is no," noted the association.

"India is facing a widening and underreported shortage of cardiology specialists, even as cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death in the country," stated Dr. Rakesh Gupta from the Indian Academy of Echocardiography. "We have fewer than 5,000 to 6,000 trained cardiologists serving a population of over 140 crore. This translates to roughly one cardiologist per 2 to 3 lakh people. In contrast, developed countries often have ratios closer to one per 20 to 30 thousand."

Highlighting the PGDCC programme's academic journey, Prof. A. K. Agarwal from AIIMS and Former Director of SOHS IGNOU said, "Over the past 20 years, 1,706 doctors have completed the diploma. Training was conducted across 77 institutions nationwide, and programs were led by eminent cardiology professors." Prof. Agarwal explained, "With formal recognition now achieved, these trained doctors are expected to become eligible for government recruitment and structured integration into the public healthcare system. This is potentially transformational for rural cardiology services."

While sharing the long fight towards recognition, Dr Rajesh Rajan, Board of Governors Chairman for the Indian Association of Clinical Cardiologists (IACC), mentioned that by 2008, doctors were already pushing the Medical Council of India (MCI) and state health ministries for formal approval. Parliamentarians P. J. Kurien, N. K. Premachandran, and Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar repeatedly raised the issue. Dr. Rajan continuously engaged Union Health Ministers Anbumani Ramadoss, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Harsh Vardhan, and Mansukh Mandaviya.

He credited J. P. Nadda and Narendra Modi for finally granting the decisive recognition. When the matter reached the courts in 2016, a strong legal team stepped up. Dr Rajan expressed deep respect for the lawyers who fought their case. He credited advocates Amit Kumar and Shaurya, along with senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Raju Ramachandran, for the victory. He said their hard work finally paid off, securing a much better future for clinical heart care in India.

When asked how this recognition will benefit the healthcare system in the country, Dr. Rajan told Medical Dialogues, "Due to the recognition, 1,706 specialist doctors have now been added to the mainstream. With the help of our Prime Minister Modi and his mission, these doctors can be posted in rural areas. So, the Government can revolutionize rural cardiology. They can post us to district, taluka, and rural hospitals and easily 2–3 cardiologists can be posted in every district. This will be a game-changer in rural cardiology development."

"Our population is 140 crore. As per WHO standard, the ideal doctor-to-population ratio should be 1:1000. However, in remote areas, the ratio is not ideal, and when it comes to specialists, it is much worse. So, the PGDCC recognition will help balance the specialist doctor-to-population ratio," he added.

Urging the Prime Minister to consider promoting such courses to improve the healthcare system in the country and to battle quackery, he further mentioned, "The course stopped in 2015. If it had continued, we would have 6,000–7,000 more specialist doctors. The Government should consider promoting such courses, because it will help prevent quackery. In rural areas, more than 15,000 quacks are working. So, instead of that, promoting such degree courses will help rural and semi-urban healthcare. I hope Modi ji looks into it and considers promoting such courses."

Also Read: NO Recognition To PGDCC Despite NMC Reconsideration: Health Minister