Doctors condemn Kerala PSC move to include non-medical candidates for biochemistry post

Thiruvananthapuram: A controversy recently erupted in Kerala after the Kerala Public Service Commission (KPSC) cancelled a scheduled written examination for the post of Assistant Professor in Biochemistry in government medical colleges and decided to include non-medical candidates in the selection process. The move has drawn sharp criticism from the medical fraternity, which has strongly opposed the decision.

The exam, meant for direct recruitment to the post, was cancelled at the last minute on October 14, 2025, after the hall tickets had already been issued. The KPSC said that non-medical postgraduates in Biochemistry should also be given a chance to appear for the exam and the selection process, going by the latest National Medical Commission (NMC) qualification fixed for the same post.

The latest norms referred to by the Kerala PSC come from the National Medical Commission (NMC) Medical Institutions (Qualifications of Faculty) Regulations, 2025, which were notified and came into force in mid-2025.

The NMC 2025 regulations allow MSc/PhD degree holders in subjects like Biochemistry to be considered for teaching roles in medical colleges up to a limit (30 %) when enough medically qualified candidates (MD/MS) are not available.

Also read- Doctors oppose appointment of non-medical graduates as faculty in medical colleges, stage protest

According to the erstwhile Medical Council of India's Teachers Eligibility and Qualification Guidelines, candidates with medical M.Sc/Ph.d qualifications could be appointed as teachers in five non-clinical specialities to 30% extent (50% for biochemistry) of the total faculty strength.

Back in 2020, after NMC took over MCI, it released a draft regarding Minimum Requirements for Annual MBBS admissions Regulations, 2020. The draft, which was released initially for public feedback, was along the lines of MCI norms. However, the finalised notification released through a gazetted notification in October 2020 halved the permissible percentage to 15% in Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry and completely removed it for Pharmacology and Microbiology disciplines, which affected the Medical M.Sc/Ph.d community.

The gazetted notification on 28th October 2020 by NMC stated, "In the department of Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, non-medical teachers may be appointed to the extent of 15%of the total number of posts in the department subject to non-availability of medical teachers. The above mentioned non-medical teachers and the Statistican in the department of Community Medicine should possess qualification in that particular subject from a recognized university as per requirements in Teachers Eligibility Qualification Regulations."

This resulted in a 65% reduction in Biochemistry, 50% in Anatomy and physiology, and 100% in Microbiology and Pharmacology.

Now, under the Medical Institutions (Qualifications of Faculty) Regulations, 2025, NMC has again expanded eligibility; non-medical MSc/PhD holders are eligible again in pre-clinical subjects, and up to 30% of total faculty posts can be non-medical (including Biochemistry).

However, the decision has drawn sharp criticism from the Association of Medical Biochemists Kerala chapter and the Kerala Government Medical College Teachers’ Association (KGMCTA). The associations termed the move "arbitrary" and said it violates existing government rules.

As per a State government order (GO(MS) No.14/2013/H & FWD dated January 22, 2013), as reported by The Hindu, appointments of Assistant Professors in medical education services are to be made through direct recruitment by the PSC. The qualification required is a medical postgraduate degree, such as MD or MS in the concerned subject from a recognised university.

The KPSC’s own notification issued on June 17, 2025 for the post of Assistant Professor in Biochemistry clearly mentioned qualifications as MD/DNB in Biochemistry, one-year Senior Residency experience, and permanent registration with the Kerala State Medical Council.

Hence, both the associations argue that Kerala has never been dependent on the "vacillating advisories of NMC" for the recruitment and selection of faculty in government medical colleges. They pointed out that early clinical exposure is an essential aspect of competency-based medical education, and that a non-medical MSc or PhD qualification can in no way be a substitute for the clinical exposure that a faculty in a medical college should possess and impart to medical students.

They stated that "KPSC’s decision to allow non-medical candidates’ entry into the medical education service, altering the qualification for candidates after the initiation of the selection process, is a violation of the law. It will also lead to the dilution of the quality of medical education in the State."

The associations have taken up the matter with both the KPSC and the State government. Meanwhile, several applicants holding MBBS and MD degrees have approached the Kerala Administrative Tribunal challenging the KPSC’s decision and demanding that the KPSC withdraw its decision to include non-medical candidates in the medical education service and immediately complete the selection process for eligible medical candidates.

Also read- NMC clarifies on Medical Faculty Regulations 2025