NMC to impose penalties, reduce seats of med colleges that refuse to pay stipends

NMC to impose penalties, reduce seats of med colleges that refuse to pay stipends

There are plans to begin inspecting colleges regarding stipend non-payment and other related issues

 Ayushi.Gupta1@timesofindia.com 09.12.2024

The National Medical Commission (NMC) issued show-cause notices to 198 medical colleges— 115 government and 83 private—over the non-submission of stipend details for Undergraduate (UG) interns, Postgraduate (PG) residents, and senior residents in super specialities for the financial year 2023-24. Several medical interns and resident doctors have complained about not receiving any stipend money or half the amount promised. NMC is reviewing the details submitted by medical colleges and plans to impose penalties once confirmed that the stipends are being withheld

College inspections 

Following a Supreme Court order, the NMC directed all medical colleges and health institutions to submit details of stipends paid to medical interns and postgraduate resident doctors in 2023- 24. Dr B Srinivas, secretary, NMC, says, “The NMC aims to analyse stipend data submitted by colleges across the country. The purpose of collecting this data is to track the functioning of these institutions. The NMC plans to begin inspecting colleges regarding stipend non-payment and other related issues. If sufficient evidence of non-payment is found, the NMC will impose financial penalties on the offending colleges. For habitual offenders, further actions may include reducing the total number of seats allocated to the institution. A robust feedback mechanism is essential to make these inspections more effective.” 

Several residents and interns, speaking on the condition of anonymity, have shared their grievances with Education Times. A resident doctor completing his PG at Pacific Medical College and Hospital in Udaipur, Rajasthan, said, “The quoted stipend for all resident doctors is Rs 75,000, but none of the 390 residents have received the entire amount. We requested the administration to disburse the stipends to pay our hostel fees and other expenses, but no action has been taken. Additionally, all residents were asked to pay the full fee during the first year and sign an affidavit stating that our stipends had already been adjusted against the fees. We have been warned not to reveal this information, or we could be failed in our exams.” 

A female MBBS graduate from NRI Institute of Medical Sciences in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, added, “I graduated in 2024, and despite completing my internship, most of our batchmates including me have not received our stipends for the internship period. The college management has failed to disburse the stipend citing financial constraints. We request NMC to take immediate action.” Another MBBS intern at Dr Vasantrao Pawar Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre in Nashik, Maharashtra, said, “I have not received my stipend since September. Until then, I received only Rs 8,000 as against Rs 18,000. I am shocked to find that my college’s name was not included in the NMC’s list of 198 colleges receiving show-cause notices.” 

A PG resident doctor at Shridevi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Hospital in Tumkur, Karnataka, said, “I paid around Rs 2 lakh for hostel fees, which was made compulsory for all PG residents. I had to take a loan to pay both the hostel and college fees, which I planned to repay using my stipend but the college has not paid us any money. If I speak out, I fear my career will be sabotaged.” 

NMC has received multiple anonymous complaints regarding non-payment of stipends. Dr Srinivas says, “ The scope of investigations is often discreet and focused on gathering evidence without directly confronting individuals. Understandably, revealing names could jeopardise the careers of complainants. However, if multiple complaints are received from a particular college, the NMC will red-flag the institution and initiate a thorough investigation. However, support from students and faculty members is crucial for successful investigations.” 

Survey findings  In 2023, NMC conducted an online survey which revealed that 27% of PG students at private or self-financed medical colleges are not paid any stipend. Additionally, 54% of PG students receive less than the stipend amount paid to their counterparts in government-run medical colleges. The  survey found that among 7,901 PG students from 213 self-financed/private medical colleges across 19 states, about 16% reported being forced to return their stipend money to college management. Dr Srinivas says, “As the NMC transitions to more digital processes, it aims to simplify monitoring and enforcement mechanisms. An online system will make it easier to identify and address malpractices, ensuring greater accountability among medical colleges.”

NMC unveils norms to spot fake patients during college audits

NMC unveils norms to spot fake patients during college audits

DurgeshNandan.Jha@timesofindia.com  09.12.2024

New Delhi : Every year, on a specific day, some hospitals affiliated with medical colleges admit healthy individuals as patients. This trick is employed to deceive inspection teams that come to assess the facilities for granting approval to establish a new medical college or to increase the number of MBBS seats in an existing one. In many cases, the hospitals succeed in their deception. Recently, there have been multiple recorded instances of medical colleges hiring fake or nonserious patients to meet the minimum standards required for grant of a license to operate or to increase the number of MBBS seats. 

Recognising this problem, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has, for the first time, issued detailed guidelines on how to identify fake patients. The NMC guidelines state that if the assessor observes a large number of patients admitted on the day of assessment or the previous day, it could indicate fake admissions. Similarly, if the admitted patients have ailments that can be treated in the outpatient department (OPD) with oral medications, those should also be considered fake admissions.

Another criterion described by the NMC to identify fake or ghost patients is admission without any evidence of investigations, such as X-rays, blood tests, etc., either before or after admission. In pediatric wards, the NMC guidelines add that fake patients can be identified if assessors find that most of the admitted children are playful and cheerful without any significant medical issues. Recently, such an instance was recorded when a medical college in Maharashtra applied to increase its intake of MBBS students from 100 to 150. The assessors found that all the patients admitted to the pediatric ward were “hale and hearty”. 

The NMC guidelines also say that admission of multiple patients from the same family, or those admitted in large numbers through preventive health checkups/camps may also be identified as fake patients.

It has been observed for a long time that some medical institutions/colleges indulge in admitting fake patients (people who do not require any in-patient treatment) to fulfil the requirement of bed occupancy, investigation, etc. “If the assessor makes the abovementioned observations in their remarks, it will be considered as indulgence of the institution in ‘fake patient practice’ which will be considered as a serious violation,” said an NMC official.

Targeted efforts, sensitisation drives needed to curb rising student suicides

Targeted efforts, sensitisation drives needed to curb rising student suicides 

In developed states where per capita income is more, higher aspirations often lead to increased pressure 

Priyadarshini.Gupta@timesofindia.com 14.10.2024

Despite several government initiatives such as Manodarpan, Tele Mental Health Assurance and Networking Across States (Tele MANAS) helpline, School Health and Wellness Programme, and other initiatives to address mental health challenges, student suicides continue to rise in India. According to a recent report from the Annual IC3 Conference and Expo 2024, India is witnessing an alarming rise in student suicides. A report by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reveals that the student suicide rate in India has surpassed both the population growth rate and overall suicide trends. Over the past two decades, student suicides have grown at an alarming annual rate of 4%, double the national average. 

In 2022, male students accounted for 53% of total student suicides. Between 2021 and 2022, male student suicides decreased by 6%, while female student suicides increased by 7%, noted the report. Poor mental health As per the report, Maharashtra leads with the highest student suicide rate at 1,764, followed by Tamil Nadu (1,416), Madhya Pradesh (1,340), Uttar Pradesh (1,060), and Jharkhand (824). These five states are collectively making up 49% of all student suicides in the country. The statistics indicate that one in seven youngters between the ages of 15 and 24 in India faces poor mental health.

 Ramya Modukuri, director, Future Pathways for ISP Group of Schools, Hyderabad, says, “Rising student suicides are driven by academic stress, competitive exams, and narrow definitions of success. This is aggravated by limited career awareness among students, which heightens anxiety about the future. Social media and selfesteem problems through constant comparison and online  trolling; nuclear families, lack of emotional support, and loneliness are the other major issues that impact a child’s mind. The stigma around mental health prevents many students from seeking help, causing them to suffer in isolation.” 

She says, “Certain states, like Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, may report higher student suicide rates due to bet ter reporting mechanisms and potentially less stigma in urban areas. National initiatives are steps in the right direction, but more targeted local efforts are needed.” Outlining Maharashtra government’s comprehensive efforts to address child welfare concerns through the Saksham Balak Abhiyan (SBA), Prashant Narnaware, commissioner, Maharashtra Women and Child Development, says, “The initiative focuses on addressing the multiple pressures faced by children, including academic stress, parental expectations, and the growing issues of addiction — not just substance abuse but also online addiction. The programme, designed in collaboration with the child welfare commission, has been taken to schools and other platforms to directly engage children, parents, and teachers.” Dr V Senthil Kumar Reddi, professor, Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, says, “Students, particularly those aged 15 to 29, are among the most vulnerable groups when it comes to suicide. In economically developed states like Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu where the per capita income is more, higher aspirations often lead to increased pressure, which accelerates feelings of hopelessness.

Also, despite being connected digitally, many students experience a sense of isolation.” Dr Reddi says, “The effectiveness of government policies often hinges on their implementation at the ground level. States such as Maharashtra, TN, and UP have initiated targeted interventions and training drives to address suicide prevention, but the success of these measures may vary. There may also be gaps in the implementation of these policies.” Underscoring the need for robust support systems, he says, “Programmes such as gatekeeper training should be encouraged. It is designed to equip individuals with skills to recognise and support those at risk of suicide. These programmes aim to identify signs and provide initial support before professional help is accessed. Creating safe, non-judgmental spaces for students to express their feelings and seek help is also crucial. The affected ones, most of the times, just want to be heard out.” 

10/14/24, 9:20 AM Times of India ePaper bangalore - Read Today’s English News Paper Online https://epaper.indiatimes.com/timesepaper/publication-the-times-of-india,city-bangalore.cms 2/3 10/14/24, 9:20 AM Times of India ePaper bangalore

NMC running with boards handicapped by vacancies Board On New Colleges, Courses Has Just A Part-Time Member

NMC running with boards handicapped by vacancies Board On New Colleges, Courses Has Just A Part-Time Member 

Rema.Nagarajan@timesofindia.com 28.09.2024

Four years after the National Medical Commission (NMC) was constituted, the posts of several members of its four autonomous boards are lying vacant. While the health minister talked of creating 75,000 MBBS seats in the next five years, the board responsible for regulating this process now has just one part-time member whose tenure ends in Dec. The five-member Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB), which includes the president of the board, has only Dr Urmila Singh, a parttime member appointed for a two-year term in Dec 2022. In fact, if one goes by the information on the commission’s website, MARB has no members at all as of now. However, the NMC issued a notice last week inviting applications for starting new post graduate medical courses and for establishing new standalone post graduate institutes. The board gives permission to start new medical colleges, new PG courses or increase the number of seats.

According to the NMC Act, “Each autonomous board shall consist of a president and two wholetime members and two part-time members”. The tenure of the president and the wholetime members is four years and that of part-time members is two years. While the website shows MARB as being empty and other fivemember boards as having just two members each, the tenure of most members came to an end on Tuesday (Sept 24). However, the website does not reflect the appointment of one part-time member for each board made in Dec 2022. 

According to the website, the Ethics and Medical Registration Board has no president but has two whole-time members. Their tenure has ended, and the part-time member appointed in Dec 2022, Dr Shahjanand Prasad, does not figure on the website. In the Post-Graduate Medical Education Board, there is just the president, Dr Vijay Oza, who  was appointed as a member in Sept 2020 and later made president, and one parttime member Dr K Senthil, appointed in Dec 2022. 

The Under Graduate Medical Education Board has the president, Dr Aruna V Vanikar, and a whole-time member Dr Vijayendra Kumar, both appointed on September 25, 2020, which means their tenure has ended and one part-time member Dr Pallavi Saple. According to the NMC Act, three months before the end of a member’s tenure, the matter must be referred to the Search Committee for filling up the vacancy. TOI’s queries to the health ministry and the NMC regarding these vacancies in the autonomous boards did not receive any response.

Medical students go missing: Madurai High Court Bench orders SIT probe

Medical students go missing: Madurai High Court Bench orders SIT probe

The Hindu Bureau

MADURAI 01.09.2024 

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed that a Special Investigation Team be formed under the supervision of Madurai Commissioner of Police to conduct investigation into the case of two missing medical students.

A Division Bench of Justices C.V. Karthikeyan and J. Sathya Narayana Prasad took into account that a first year medical student of Government Medical College, Ariyalur, had gone missing from her home since May 22.

Similarly, a youth, a second year medical student of Government Medical College, Namakkal, had gone missing since May 18.

Mutual decision?

It was suspected that both had taken a decision together to move away from their respective homes. They are yet to be located. Police complaints were lodged in Tiruchi and Namakkal districts respectively. The court observed that there was no progress made in the investigation and said that it was deeply concerned about the safety of the two children which is of extreme importance.

The court directed the Special Investigation Team to be formed under the supervision of the Commissioner of Police, Madurai city, and functioning under the Deputy Commissioner of Police (South), Madurai city.

The court directed that the investigation should commence immediately without any delay.

Taking into account that two separate FIRs were registered, the court directed it to be placed before the Director General of Police so that they can be clubbed and investigation can be done in a coordinated manner.

The court posted the matter on September 23 for filing of the report on the progress made in the investigation.

Medical Education : Supreme Court Transfers To Itself Petitions In HCs Challenging NMC Mandate For Govt Fee In 50% Pvt Medical Seats

Medical Education : Supreme Court Transfers To Itself Petitions In HCs Challenging NMC Mandate For Govt Fee In 50% Pvt Medical Seats

Gyanvi Khanna

9 Jan 2024 7:53 PM

In another legal update, the Supreme Court is set to examine the validity of an Office Memorandum issued by the National Medical Commission (on February 3, 2022) stipulating that 50% of the seats in Private Medical Colleges “should be at par with the fee in the Government Medical Colleges of a particular State.”

The AHSI Association of Health Sciences Institutes has filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court challenging the NMC's decision. However, several High Courts were also seized with a similar matter. Considering the same, the Supreme Court (on January 05) has allowed the transfer petitions filed by the NMC seeking the transfer of all similar matters to the SC.

Accordingly, the Bench of Justices Abhay S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan ordered:

“Considering the issue involved in Writ Petition (Civil) No.682 of 2022 which is the pending in this Court and the issues involved in the writ petitions which are subject matter of transfer, we allow the Transfer Petitions. The Registry to issue orders to the Registrar General of all the concerned High Courts to immediately transmit the record of the transferred writ petitions.”

The impugned OM has been stayed by three High Courts, namely, Kerala High Court, Madhya Pradesh High Court and Madras High Court.

AHSI is an Association of unaided private medical colleges and nursing institutes operating in the State of West Bengal.

In its petition, AHSI has assailed the impugned OM, stating the same is not only ultra-vires the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, but it is also without jurisdiction, unconstitutional, and an attempt to overrule the judgments of the Top Court.

Elaborating, it said that the Apex Court, by its several rulings, has clearly formulated the method for fixation of fees, considering various guidelines such as facilities available in the college, infrastructure, age of investment made, plans for expansion, etc. The petitioner went on to state that the sole authority vested with powers to fix the fees of medical colleges fees is the Fee Fixation Committee in each state. The same is presided over by a retired High Court judge, a Chartered Accountant of repute, a representative of the Medical Council of India, and the Secretary of State for Medical / Technical Education.

“Each college is required to place before the Committee its fee proposal along with relevant books of accounts. The committee has been conferred with the power to either approve or alter the fee structure proposed by the college and such fee shall be applicable for 3 years.,” the petition elucidated.

Among other cases, the petitioner cited a landmark judgment of T.M.A. Pai Foundation & Ors. Vs. State of Karnataka & Ors. It contended that in T.M.A Pai, the 11-Judge Bench of the Court has held such a stipulation for 50% of seats in private medical colleges to be treated as Government seats for Fee fixation as “unconstitutional”.

Referring to Section 10(1)(i) of the NMC Act, it has been argued that the same does not extend any such jurisdiction of fee fixation in the NMC. It only seeks to provide certain factors to be considered about the fixation of fees, which is being fixed by the Fee Committee, as mentioned above, from time to time.

Pertinently, the referred Section 10(1)(i) of the NMC Act, inter alia, stipulates that the NMC shall frame guidelines for fees and other charges concerning 50% seats in private medical institutions.

Accordingly, it is being submitted that the impugned OM is ultra-vires to Section 10 and ultra-vires to the Constitution of India.

“It is without jurisdiction, unconstitutional, and an attempt to overrule the judgments of this Hon'ble Court by an executive action – in a manner not known and impermissible in law.,” the petition stated.

In view of this, the petitioner has asserted that NMC is not empowered to fix the fee and not allow the unaided private institutions to recover the fee fixed by Fee Committees from all the students in a uniform manner to recover its expenditure and also a reasonable profit/surplus for its expansion.

Case Title: NATIONAL MEDICAL COMMISSION vs. HIMALAYAN INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES., Diary No.- 32618 – 2022

No action by NMC on paltry stipend for house surgeons at private medical colleges

No action by NMC on paltry stipend for house surgeons at private medical colleges

The issue stems from the NMC’s vague guidelines on Compulsory Rotating Internship Regulations, which grant the power to fix stipends to the college management.

Published: 13th July 2023 06:29 AM 

By Unnikrishnan S

Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The failure of the National Medical Council (NMC), the governing body responsible for regulating medical education, to address the issue of extremely low stipends for MBBS interns in private medical colleges has caused considerable concern. Despite the commencement of a new batch of house surgeons in July, there has been no improvement in the stipend amounts they receive.

In response to a complaint filed by a medical student from Kozhikode, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) ordered the NMC to conduct a nationwide survey to investigate the disparity in stipend payments.

The NMC conducted the survey in May but has yet to provide an action-taken report, even though the NHRC requested it within eight weeks. This delay has led health activist Dr Babu K V to question the NMC’s commitment to safeguarding the interests of the students.

“The medical council / NMC had three opportunities to ensure uniform stipend for MBBS interns. First was in January 2019 when they issued notification for Compulsory Rotating Internship Regulations, later when it was gazetted in November 2023 and the last when NHRC intervened.

They acted in favour of private medical college managements on earlier two occasions and now also seems to be dragging the issue,” said Dr Babu, who has been following the issue since 2017.

The issue stems from the NMC’s vague guidelines on Compulsory Rotating Internship Regulations, which grant the power to fix stipends to the college management. This has resulted in significant disparities in stipend amounts among different colleges, leaving students at the mercy of their respective institutions.

“The disparity in stipends given at various colleges shows the arbitrariness in which they handle the issue. Most of the time the students suffer in silence. We were hoping for an early resolution of the issue after the survey,” said a representative of the Medical Students Network, the student unit of the Indian Medical Association (IMA).

NMC received over 28,000 responses due to the vigorous campaigning by MSN. However, the situation has not changed even when the new batch of MBBS students started their house surgency in July.

The stipend amounts for MBBS interns in private medical colleges vary greatly, with the respective colleges’ fee fixing authority having the final say under the Compulsory Rotating Internship Regulations, 2021. Stipends, which are essential for students during their one-year house surgency period, range from as low as Rs 1,500 (after deductions) to Rs 13,000 in most private colleges.

மருத்துவ மாணவர் சேர்க்கை: பறிக்கப்படும் மாநில உரிமை

மருத்துவ மாணவர் சேர்க்கை: பறிக்கப்படும் மாநில உரிமை

நீட் தேர்வில் தமிழக மாணவர் பிரபஞ்சன், 720க்கு 720 மதிப்பெண் பெற்று, தேசிய அளவில் முதலிடம் பெற்றுள்ளார்.

முதல் 10 இடங்களில் 4 தமிழக மாணவர்கள் இடம்பெற்றுள்ளனர்; இது பாராட்டுக்குரியது. இம்மாணவர்களுக்குக் கிடைத்ததுபோல், அனைத்து மாணவர்களுக்கும் வாய்ப்புகளை வழங்கிட அரசு முயல வேண்டும். கூடவே, இன்னொரு பிரச்சினை குறித்தும் கவனம் செலுத்த வேண்டியிருக்கிறது.

மாநில உரிமைப் பறிப்பு: மருத்துவக் கல்வியில் நீட் தேர்வு மூலம் மாநில உரிமையைப் பறித்ததுபோல், தற்போது 'நெக்ஸ்ட்' (NEXT) என்ற தேர்வு மூலமும், அனைத்து இடங்களுக்குமான ஒற்றைச் சாளர மாணவர் சேர்க்கை மூலமும் மாநில உரிமையைப் பறிப்பதற்கான முயற்சிகள் தொடங்கியுள்ளன. 'மாணவர் சேர்க்கையில் காலதாமதம் ஏற்படுகிறது, இடத்தைத் தடுத்துவைப்பது போன்ற முறைகேடுகள் நடக்கின்றன, இடங்கள் காலியாகப் போகின்றன' என்பன போன்ற காரணங்களைக் கூறி, மாநில அரசுகளின் இடங்கள் உள்பட, நாடு முழுவதும் உள்ள 100% மருத்துவ இடங்களுக்கும் மத்திய அரசே மாணவர் சேர்க்கையை நடத்த உள்ளது. இந்த ஆண்டு மட்டும் மாணவர் சேர்க்கையை நடத்திக்கொள்ள தமிழ்நாட்டுக்கு அனுமதி கிடைத்துள்ளது. கல்வி ஒத்திசைவுப் பட்டியலில் (Concurrent List) உள்ளது. இந்நிலையில், மாநில அரசுகளின் ஒப்புதலின்றி நடக்கும் இத்தகைய உரிமைப் பறிப்பு, கூட்டாட்சிக் கோட்பாட்டுக்கு எதிரானதாகும்.

பாதிப்பு என்ன? மத்திய அரசின் இந்த அதிகாரக் குவிப்பு, ஒற்றைச் சாளர மாணவர் சேர்க்கை முறை, தமிழ்நாட்டின் 69% இடஒதுக்கீட்டையும் அருந்ததியர், முஸ்லிம் உள்ஒதுக்கீடுகளையும் அரசுப் பள்ளி மாணவர்களுக்கான 7.5% இடஒதுக்கீட்டையும் பாதிக்கக்கூடும். மாநில அரசு இடஒதுக்கீட்டைத் திறம்படக் கையாள்வதைப் போல், மத்தியக் கலந்தாய்வு கையாளுமா என்ற சந்தேகம் எழுகிறது. மேலும், இம்முறையின் மூலம், முன்னேறிய வகுப்பு ஏழைகளுக்கான 10% இடஒதுக்கீடும் தமிழக இடங்களுக்குப் புகுத்தப்படலாம் எனத் தெரிகிறது.

இளநிலை மாணவர் சேர்க்கைதொடர்பாக, இந்திய அரசிதழில் 02.06.2023 அன்று வெளியிடப்பட்டுள்ள அறிவிப்பில், மாநில அரசுகளின் இடஒதுக்கீடுகள் பின்பற்றப்படும் எனக் கூறப்படவில்லை. நீட் தரவரிசை அடிப்படையில், என்.எம்.சி. இருக்கை அணி (SeatMatrix) அடிப்படையில் மாணவர் சேர்க்கை நடத்தப்படும் என்றே கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது. இது ஐயத்தை வலுப்படுத்துகிறது. இது தவிர, ஒவ்வொரு மாநிலத்திலும் அம்மாநில அரசுகளுக்குத் தனியார், நிகர்நிலை மருத்துவப் பல்கலைக்கழகங்கள் வழங்கும் இடங்களும் பறிபோகும். மாநில அரசும், மத்திய அரசும் தங்களது இடங்களுக்கு மாணவர் சேர்க்கையை நடத்திக்கொள்ளலாம் என தேசிய மருத்துவ ஆணையத்தின் சட்டப் பிரிவு [(NMC Act - 2019) Chapter IV, 14(3)] கூறுகிறது. மத்திய அரசின் ஒற்றைச் சாளர மாணவர் சேர்க்கை, இச்சட்டத்துக்கு எதிரானது.

அகில இந்தியத் தொகுப்பு கூடாது: இளநிலை மருத்துவப் படிப்புகளில் 15% இடங்கள், அகில இந்தியத் தொகுப்புக்கு வழங்கப்படுகிறது; இதுவே மாநில உரிமைகளுக்கு எதிரானதுதான். வடக்கு, வடகிழக்கு மாநிலங்களில் போதிய மருத்துவக் கல்லூரிகள் இல்லாமல் இருந்த காலத்தில், அம்மாநில மாணவர்கள் மருத்துவப் படிப்பை மேற்கொள்ள முடியவில்லை. இதைக் காரணம்காட்டி, 1983இல் பிரதீப் ஜெயின் என்ற மருத்துவர் தொடர்ந்த வழக்கால், உச்ச நீதிமன்றம் அகில இந்தியத் தொகுப்பை 1984இல் உருவாக்கியது. வசிப்பிட அடிப்படையில் (Domicile), மாநிலங்கள் தங்களுக்கென மருத்துவ இடங்களை முழுமையாக வைத்துக்கொள்ளக் கூடாது. குறிப்பிட்ட விழுக்காடு இடங்களை அகில இந்தியத் தொகுப்புக்கு வழங்க வேண்டும் என்றது. இதனால், அரசு மருத்துவ இடங்களை அதிகம் கொண்ட தமிழ்நாடு இழப்புக்குள்ளாகிறது.ஜி.ஆர்.இரவீந்திரநாத்

தற்போது அனைத்து மாநிலங்களிலும் மருத்துவக் கல்லூரிகள் உள்ளன. மாவட்டங்கள்தோறும் மருத்துவக் கல்லூரிகள் தொடங்கப்படுகின்றன. ஏராளமான தனியார் மருத்துவக் கல்லூரிகளும் உள்ளன. ஒவ்வொரு மாநிலத்திலும் எய்ம்ஸ் தொடங்கப்படுகிறது. இந்நிலையில், மாணவர் சேர்க்கையில் நிலவும் குழப்பங்களுக்கும் காலதாமதத்துக்கும் காரணமான அகிலஇந்தியத் தொகுப்பை ரத்து செய்திட வேண்டும். இந்த முறையின் மூலம் மாணவர் சேர்க்கையை நடத்தி முடிக்க 45 நாள்களுக்கு மேல் ஆகிவிடுகிறது என்பது கவனிக்கத்தக்கது.

நடைமுறையை மாற்ற வேண்டும்: மாணவர் சேர்க்கைக் கலந்தாய்வில், நவீனத் தொழில்நுட்பங்களைப் பயன்படுத்தினால், காலதாமதத்தையும் இடங்களைத் தடுத்துவைப்பதையும் முறைகேடுகளையும் தடுக்கலாம். நீட் தேர்வை முன்கூட்டியே நடத்துதல், முடிவுகளை விரைவாக வெளியிடுதல், மாணவர் சேர்க்கையை விரைவாகத் தொடங்குதல், மத்திய-மாநில அரசுகள் ஒரே நேரத்தில் மாணவர்சேர்க்கையை நடத்துதல் போன்ற நடைமுறை மாற்றங்களால் மாணவர் சேர்க்கையில் ஏற்படும் கால தாமதத்தைத் தடுக்க முடியும் இவற்றைச் செய்யாமல், மத்தியில் அதிகாரத்தைக் குவிப்பது, பிரச்சினைகளை மேலும் அதிகரிக்கும்.

இடங்கள் காலியாவது ஏன்? சில ஆண்டுகளாகத் தனியார் மருத்துவக் கல்லூரிகளில் எம்.பி.பி.எஸ்., பி.டி.எஸ்.,ஆயுஷ் மருத்துவ இடங்கள், முதுநிலை-உயர் சிறப்பு மருத்துவ இடங்கள் காலியாகப் போகின்றன. அரசு மருத்துவக் கல்லூரிகளிலும் சில முதுநிலை-உயர் சிறப்பு மருத்துவ இடங்கள் காலியாகப் போகின்றன. கல்விக் கட்டண அதிகரிப்பு, அப்படிப்பை முடித்தோருக்கு வேலைவாய்ப்பின்மை, அப்படிப்புகள் தனியாகத் தொழில் செய்யப் பயன்படாமல் போனது, அவற்றின் சந்தை மதிப்பு குறைந்தது போன்றவை இதற்கு முக்கியக் காரணங்களாகும். கட்டணம் குறைவாக இருப்பதால், மருத்துவப் படிப்புக்காக ஏராளமானோர் வெளிநாடுகளை நாடுகின்றனர். இவற்றை உணராமல், மாணவர் சேர்க்கை முறைதான் மருத்துவ இடங்கள் காலியாகப் போகக் காரணம் என்பது மேம்போக்குப் பார்வையாகும். இதனால் மாநில உரிமை பலியாகிறது.

முறைகேடுகளைத் தடுப்பது எப்படி? கடைசி இடம் நிரம்பும்வரை மத்திய-மாநில அரசுகள் மட்டுமே மாணவர் சேர்க்கையை நடத்த வேண்டும். எக்காரணம் கொண்டும் தனியார் மருத்துவக் கல்லூரிகள் நேரடியாக மாணவர் சேர்க்கையை நடத்த அனுமதிக்கக் கூடாது. முறைகேடுகளுக்குக் காரணமான, மாப்-அப் (mop up counselling), ஸ்ட்ரே (stray counselling) கலந்தாய்வை நடத்திட அந்நிறுவனங்களை அனுமதிக்கக் கூடாது. அனைத்து இடங்களுக்கும் அரசே கட்டணங்களை நிர்ணயிக்க வேண்டும்; ஏழை மாணவர்களுக்கான கட்டணங்களை அரசுகளே ஏற்க வேண்டும். இதுவே, முறைகேடுகளைத் தடுக்கும். தகுதி அடிப்படையிலான மாணவர் சேர்க்கையை உறுதிசெய்யும். ஏழை மாணவர்களுக்கும் பயனளிக்கும்.

காரணங்கள் வேறு: அனைத்து இடங்களுக்கும் மாணவர் சேர்க்கையை மத்திய அரசு நடத்த முனைவதற்கு வேறு மறைமுகக் காரணங்கள் உள்ளதாகச் சந்தேகிக்கப்படுகிறது: பண்பாட்டுத் தேசியத்தை ஏற்றுள்ள மத்திய பாஜக அரசு, மொழிவாரி மாநிலங்களை, மொழி அடிப்படையிலான தேசியத்தை ஏற்கவில்லை. எனவே, மாநில உரிமைகளைப் பல துறைகளிலும் பறிக்கிறது. அதிகாரங்களை மையப்படுத்துகிறது. தேசத்துக்கான ஒரு மருத்துவ முறையை உருவாக்க அது முயல்கிறது. அந்நோக்கில், 2030க்குள் 'ஒரே தேசம், ஒரே மருத்துவ முறை' என்ற இலக்கை அடைய முயற்சிகள் மேற்கொள்ளப்படுகின்றன. அதோடு, மருத்துவக் கல்விச் சந்தையை, உலகக் கல்விச் சந்தையுடன் இணைந்த, ஒற்றைத் தேசியச் சந்தையாக மாற்ற மத்திய அரசு முயல்கிறது. நீட், நெக்ஸ்ட் போன்ற தேர்வுகளும் தேசிய மருத்துவ ஆணையச் சட்டமும் ஒற்றைச் சந்தை நோக்கத்துக்கு உதவுகின்றன. மத்திய அரசு மட்டுமே நடத்த உள்ள ஒற்றைச் சாளர மாணவர் சேர்க்கை, அந்நோக்கத்துக்கு மேலும் துணைபுரியும்.

மருத்துவக் கல்வி வணிகத்துக்கு, மாநிலங்களைக் கடந்த ஒற்றைச் சந்தை வேண்டும் என்ற பெருநிறுவனங்களின் லாப வேட்கையும், 'ஒரே தேசம், ஒரே மருத்துவ முறை' என்கிற மத்திய அரசின் நோக்கமும் நிறைவேற, மருத்துவக் கல்வியில், மையப்படுத்தப்பட்ட அதிகாரக் குவிப்பு தேவைப்படுகிறது. மத்திய அரசு இப்போது மேற்கொண்டு இருப்பது அதைத்தான்!

- மருத்துவர்; சமத்துவத்துக்கான டாக்டர்கள் சங்கத்தின், பொதுச் செயலாளர்.

தொடர்புக்கு: daseindia2021@gmail.com

To Read in English: Medical course admissions: How states are robbed of rights

Source : www.hindutamil.in

Why NMC regulation on student migration will control ‘backdoor’ entries

Why NMC regulation on student migration will control ‘backdoor’ entries

There is a dire need to bring all medical colleges at par in terms of facilities, funding, and quality of teaching to prevent the temptation to migrate from one college to another

Rajlakshmi.Ghosh@timesgroup.com

In the Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2023, published in the official Gazette, NMC UG Board addressed the issue of student migration and stated, ‘No student designated to a Medical Institution, notwithstanding anything stated in these regulations, shall seek migration to any other Medical Institution. " This contradicts the previous rules which did not restrict the migration of students from government to private institutes and vice versa.

Earlier, the candidates used to be eligible for migration only after qualifying for the first professional MBBS examination. Migration during the clinical course of study was, however, not allowed on any ground. College migration has further come into focus with around 150 medical students in Gujarat facing uncertainty regarding their future as their applications for transfer to other medical institutes are still pending. Now that the National Medical Commission (NMC) has stopped the migration of MBBS students, it remains to be seen whether the mandate will impact their careers. In the larger context, experts believe that the NMC guidelines will put an end to malpractices.

A senior health ministry official on condition of anonymity says, “Earlier, some colleges were charging hefty sums to provide the mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC) to students who were inclined to migrate to government colleges. This led to instances of backdoor entry to government colleges, providing students with over 7 lakh rank in the NEET, a means to gain entry into the better-known government colleges where students within the 20,000-30,000 ranks were admitted. As a rule, students can migrate to colleges, whether government or private, during the multiple counselling rounds post the NEET results, where allotment of seats is merit based. But given the earlier provision, some students were migrating to colleges on completion of their first year MBBS, simply because they had the money and power to seek this option. ” The blanket ban on migration appears to be a departure from the Draft Regulations, wherein NMC had specified that migration of students from one medical college to another medical college will be granted as 6/19/2023, 8:59 AM


As per the guidelines of UGMEB of NMC, only in exceptional cases to the most deserving among the applicants for good and sufficient reasons and not on routine grounds. Migration will be from a government medical college to a government medical college and from a non-government medical college to a non-government medical college only. No mutual exchange would be permitted for such cases. Even prior to that, as per the 2008 amendments to the MCI Regulations on Graduate Medical Education, 1997, migration could be granted on any genuine ground subject to the availability of vacancy in the college where migration was sought and fulfilling the other requirements laid down in the Regulations.

Migration at that juncture was restricted to 5% of the sanctioned intake of the college during the year and was not permitted on any ground within the same city. “The 5% window for migration could not prevent the unethical practices for a regulation that was meant only for exceptional cases,” says the health ministry official. The new NMC regulation seems therefore like a blessing in disguise. Dr Manoj Andley, director professor of Surgery, Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi, cites instances of students who were allotted seats in tier 2 and tier 3 town medical colleges, but dissatisfied with the quality of teaching and infrastructure, preferred migrating to medical colleges near their hometowns, mostly because “they were well connected”. This also led to wastage of seats in the small towns.

“While the NMC banning migration is welcome, there is a dire need to bring uniformity across all medical colleges in terms of facilities, funding, and quality of teaching and training, so that students do not get tempted to shift from one college to another,” Andley says. “The present GMER (June 2023) will prevent the disruption of the continuity of medical education. Earlier, the migrations were arbitrary and subjective and were not based on a mutual transfer, which led to the vacancy of a seat in one medical college and its subsequent loss of revenue,” says Dr B Unnikrishnan, dean, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, elaborating that location could be a key reason for migration, but there could be other genuine reasons too, such as medical, psychosocial, economic, quality of medical education and clinical load as contributing factors.

All medical colleges need to furnish a compulsory annual disclosure report that will help a student make an informed choice on the selection of the medical college right at the start, without mulling over alternatives at a later stage while pursuing their undergraduate education, Dr Unnikrishnan adds

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Pollachi sex assault case: Medicos protest in Chennai

Medicos held aloft banners that read ‘don’t rape’, ‘stop sexual harassment,’ and ‘You can’t see height if you sit, so get up and come, girl’.

Published: 15th March 2019 05:42 AM 

Students of Stanley Medical College staging a protest inside the hospital premises in Chennai on Thursday. (Photo | Ashwin Prasath, EPS)

By Express News Service

With the Pollachi sex assault scandal getting bigger and murkier with every passing day, over 800 medical students including postgraduates and undergraduates at Government Stanley Medical College Hospital staged a demonstration at the college campus on Thursday, condemning the sexual abuse and blackmail.

They held aloft banners that read ‘don’t rape’, ‘stop sexual harassment,’ and ‘You can’t see height if you sit, so get up and come, girl’.

Speaking to Express, V Lakshmana Moorthy, a PG student, said, “If one girl would have come forward boldly and filed the complaint, more girls could have been saved from the accused. So, we wanted to raise awareness that girls should come forward boldly to take legal action against their tormentors. If they fail to do that, the culprits continue to victimise more girls.”

“It is always the mistake of the accused and not the victim. People should realise this and stop pointing fingers at girls always,” said Lakshmana Moorthy who organised the protest.

New MCI body to take time

Times of India 11.09.2018

With the tenure of 80 of the 103 members of the MCI coming to an end, the health ministry has written to states and university senates to start the process of electing new members to the council.

Free mud therapy, steam baths at govt naturopathy college

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: At least 50 more beds will be added to the government yoga and naturopathy college at Arignar Anna Institute of Indian Medicine where treatment such as mud therapy and steam bathwillbe provided free for lifestyle diseasessuch as obesity.

The hospital, part of the post-graduate course campus, was inaugurated by chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Friday. It will increase the total bed strength of yoga and naturopathy hospital to 100, hesaid. “Yogacan boost people’s health and prevent diseases,” he said inaugurating a yoga expo. “People who want toloseweight musttry visiting the hospital. It teaches people tousefood as medicine.”

Hospital records show that in thelastthree years, patients admitted to the hospital for obesity have lostup 22kg in one month, principal Dr N Manavalan said. “Many young girls were admittedhere notjustbecause they did not look good, but also because they were at risk for cardiac diseases and strokes. When they stay with usthey learn tousefood as medicine,” hesaid.

While patients get oil massages, aromatherapy, mud therapy or steam bath as part of treatment, the hospital monitors what they eat. At 6am, patients take up to three glasses of water. This is followed by a yoga session where exercises are tailor-made to suit patients’ needs. At every meal, patients get fruit and vegetables, sprouts and nuts. Nocookedfood, milk or dairy products are served. Treatment sessions include mudtherapy, steam bath and aromaticoil massages.

After a stay of 2-4 weeks many learn how to stay healthy. “Most patients have maintained body weight even after childbirth. Some men have been able to reverse diabetes and maintain healthy cholesterol levels,” hesaid.

Health minister C Vijaya Baskar said the department will open similar lifestyle clinics in all district headquarters hospitals and taluk hospitalsin the next few months.

58 மருத்துவ கல்லூரிகள் துவங்க மத்திய அமைச்சரவை ஒப்புதல்

Added : பிப் 07, 2018 21:31




புதுடில்லி: நாட்டில் 58 மருத்துவ கல்லூரிகளை துவங்க மத்திய அமைச்சரவை ஒப்புதல் அளித்துள்ளது.

நாட்டில் ரூ.14,930 கோடி மதிப்பீட்டில் மருத்துவ கல்லூரிகளை துவங்க பிரதமர் மோடி தலைமையிலான மத்திய அமைச்சரவை ஒப்புதல் அளித்துள்ளது. முதல்கட்டமாக 58 மருத்துவ கல்லூரிகளை துவங்கவும், 2ம் கட்டமாக 24 மருத்துவ கல்லூரிகளை துவங்கவும் மத்திய அமைச்சரவை ஒப்புதல் வழங்கியுள்ளது. மேலும் மருத்துவ கல்லூரிகளில் இளநிலை படிப்பில் 10,000 இடங்களும், முதுநிலை படிப்பில் 18,058 இடங்களும் உயர்த்த அனுமதி அளித்துள்ளது.

இவை தவிர, முக்கிய துறைமுக ஆணைய சட்டத்திருத்த மசோதா மற்றும் சிறிய அளவிலான எண்ணெய் வளங்களை ஓ.என்.ஜி.சி கண்டறிதல் உள்ளிட்ட திட்டங்களுக்கும் அமைச்சரவை ஒப்புதல் வழங்கியுள்ளது.

Medico was bright, say colleagues

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | D SIVA RAMI REDDY

 

Published Feb 1, 2018, 1:36 am IST

Three Town circle inspector R.G. Subramanyam said the deceased student was residing with her aunt in Kurnool.

 

 Kurnool Medical College

 

KURNOOL: Medical students, including those doing PG at Kurnool Medical College, were shell shocked to know about the suicide of PG student Vishnupriya on Tuesday at her relative’s place in A Camp area in Kurnool.

Principal Dr G.S. Ram Prasad said it was tragic and unfortunate as the deceased was a bright student with a lot of promise to excel in her chosen field.

Orthopaedics professor Dr K. Venkateswarlu told Deccan Chronicle that Vishnupriya was a very good student, brilliant, inquisitive and with lot of patience. “Even yesterday (Tuesday), she attended the class taken by Prof. Raghunath and was there in the campus till afternoon,” he said and added that entire department was shocked to hear the news. There were four girl students in the department and the atmosphere was conducive to learning, he said.

Three Town circle inspector R.G. Subramanyam said the deceased student was residing with her aunt in Kurnool. In her suicide note, it was mentioned that as she was not up to the expectations of her parents, she did not want to continue the course and had no inclination to live. She appealed to her parents to excuse her having taken the extreme step, he said.

Her father Mohan Reddy said she was a very sensitive girl right from childhood. “She could not cope with the stress and uncertainties. She had sought my advice to drop from MS course as it was too taxing for her abilities,” he said, adding that he had advised her to continue as she had already completed three semesters.

Coimbatore: 3 private hospital doctors booked for ‘careless surgery’ 

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

Published Jan 19, 2018, 3:17 am IST

: In a shocking development, city police have lodged complaint against three doctors of a private hospital. 
 

A case was lodged against the three doctors Dharmendhra, Vinodh and Kannadasan under section IPC 337. (Representational image)

COIMBATORE: In a shocking development, city police have lodged complaint against three doctors of a private hospital here after they allegedly left pieces of cotton and gauze inside the body of a four-year-old boy during a kidney surgery.

Police said that Vinodkumar, 38, an engineer of Dindigul in a petition to the city police commissioner K. Periaiah recently, sought action against three doctors of a private hospital near Ram Nagar here, who performed a kidney operation on his son Vishnu, and carelessly left cotton and gauze pieces inside after the surgery, leading to serious health problems for the boy.

While Vinodh took his son to the same hospital after a couple of weeks as the boy was unwell, struggled to urinate and a distended stomach, doctors took a scan but failed to acknowledge their carelessness and procedural lapse during the surgery.

Responding to Vinodh’s complaint, the commissioner directed the Kattoor police to take immediate action.

A case was lodged against the three doctors Dharmendhra, Vinodh and Kannadasan under section IPC 337 (causing hurt to any person by doing any action so rashly or negligently as to endanger human life). 

Deans appointed for medical colleges 

Special Correspondent 
 
CHENNAI, January 09, 2018 00:00 IST

Institutions in Vellore, Thoothukudi, Sivaganga, Kanniyakumari and Tirunelveli also get new deans

A number of medical college deans have been transferred as per a recent government order.

R. Narayana Babu, Dean, Madras Medical College, has been transferred and posted as Dean, Government Medical College, Omandurar, Block B, in place of R. Jayanthi, as per the order. Dr. Jayanthi has been transferred and posted as Dean, Madras Medical College.

M. Lalitha, Dean, Government Vellore Medical College, has been transferred and posted as Dean, Government Thoothukudi Medical College replacing R. Shanthakumar, who has retired.

R. Shanthimalar, Dean, Government Sivaganga Medical College, will replace Dr. Lalitha.

K. Vanitha, professor of paediatrics, Madras Medical College, has been promoted and posted as Dean, Government Sivaganaga Medical College.

S.M. Kannan, Dean, Government Kanniyakumari Medical College, has been transferred and posted as the Dean of Government Tirunelveli Medical College in place of K. Sithy Athiya Munavarah, who has retired.

R. Selvaraj, professor of orthopaedics, Madras Medical College, will replace Dr. Kannan.

படித்த கல்லூரிக்கே, 'டீன்' : நெல்லை டாக்டர் பெருமிதம்

Added : ஜன 08, 2018 02:05 |




  திருநெல்வேலி: நெல்லை அரசு மருத்துவக் கல்லுாரியில் படித்த மாணவர், அதே கல்லுாரியில், நேற்று டீனாக பொறுப்பேற்று கொண்டார். நாகர்கோவில் அரசு மருத்துவக் கல்லுாரி, மருத்துவமனை டீனாக இருந்த டாக்டர் கண்ணன், நெல்லை அரசு மருத்துவக் கல்லுாரி டீனாக, இடமாற்றம் செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளார். இவர், நேற்று நெல்லையில் பொறுப்பேற்றார்.
அவர் கூறியதாவது: நெல்லை அரசு மருத்துவ கல்லுாரியில் தான், மருத்துவம் படித்தேன். ஆரம்ப சுகாதார நிலையம், தென்காசி அரசு மருத்துவமனைகளில் பணியாற்றினேன்.
பட்ட மேற்படிப்பு படித்து, சிறுநீரக துறை தலைவராக, நெல்லை அரசு மருத்துவமனையில் பணிபுரிந்தேன். இங்கு, துணை முதல்வராகவும் பணியாற்றி உள்ளேன். தற்போது, டீனாக நியமிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளேன். நெல்லை அரசு மருத்துவ கல்லுாரியில், ஆரம்பத்தில், 75, 150 என, இருந்த மருத்துவ படிப்பு இடங்கள் தற்போது, 250 ஆக உயர்ந்துள்ளன. பல்வேறு சிறப்பு துறைகள் உள்ளன. ஏழை, எளிய மக்களுக்கு தரமான மருத்துவ சிகிச்சை கிடைக்க, நடவடிக்கை மேற்கொள்ளப்படும். இவ்வாறு அவர் கூறினார்.

ராஜீவ்காந்தி அரசு மருத்துவக்கல்லூரியில் புதிய முதல்வராக ஜெயந்தி பொறுப்பு ஏற்பு

---

 

ராஜீவ்காந்தி அரசு மருத்துவக்கல்லூரி மருத்துவமனையில் முதல்வராக டாக்டர் ஆர்.ஜெயந்தி நேற்று பொறுப்பு ஏற்றுக்கொண்டார். 

 

ஜனவரி 05, 2018, 04:45 AM

 

சென்னை, 

சென்னை ராஜீவ்காந்தி அரசு மருத்துவக்கல்லூரி முதல்வர் (டீன்) ஆர்.நாராயணபாபு, ஓமந்தூரார் அரசு மருத்துவக்கல்லூரிக்கு பணி இடமாற்றம் செய்யப்பட்டார். மேலும் ஓமந்தூரார் அரசு மருத்துவக்கல்லூரி முதல்வர் டாக்டர் ஆர்.ஜெயந்தி, சென்னை ராஜீவ்காந்தி அரசு மருத்துவக்கல்லூரி முதல்வராக நியமனம் செய்யப்பட்டார்.

இதனையடுத்து ராஜீவ்காந்தி அரசு மருத்துவக்கல்லூரி மருத்துவமனையில் முதல்வராக டாக்டர் ஆர்.ஜெயந்தி நேற்று பொறுப்பு ஏற்றுக்கொண்டார். பொது மருத்துவமனை புதிய ‘டீன்’ ஆக நேற்று பொறுப்பேற்ற டாக்டர் ஆர்.ஜெயந்தி, உடனடியாக தனது பணியை தொடங்கினார். பின்னர் மருத்துவமனையில் சிகிச்சை பெறும் நோயாளிகளை சந்தித்து குறைகளை கேட்டறிந்தார்.

அப்போது டாக்டர் ஆர்.ஜெயந்தி கூறுகையில், “நோயாளிகள் நலனுக்கு தேவையான நடவடிக்கைகள் எடுக்கப்படும். ராஜீவ்காந்தி அரசு பொது மருத்துவமனையின் வளர்ச்சிக்காகவும், இங்குள்ள மருத்துவ வசதிகளை நோயாளிகள் எளிதில் கிடைக்கவும் பாடுபடுவேன்”, என்றார்.

டாக்டர் ஜெயந்தி 1986-ம் ஆண்டு டாக்டர் பட்டம் பெற்றார். கடந்த 2016-ம் ஆண்டு முதல் முறையாக திருவண்ணாமலை அரசு மருத்துவக்கல்லூரியில் முதல்வராக பொறுப்பேற்றார் என்பது குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது. 

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