Approximately 150 medical colleges across the country are at risk of losing recognition from the National Medical Commission (NMC), the regulatory body responsible for overseeing medical education and professionals in India. Sources have revealed that these institutions face the threat due to insufficient faculty and non-compliance with regulations. As of now, 40 medical colleges have already lost recognition and are required to demonstrate adherence to the set standards as per NMC guidelines.
The list of colleges under the NMC’s scrutiny includes institutions in Gujarat, Assam, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Tripura, and West Bengal, according to sources.
The deficiencies were uncovered during a comprehensive inspection conducted by the Undergraduate Medical Education Board of the NMC over a month-long period. The assessment focused on areas such as CCTV camera surveillance, the accuracy of Aadhar-linked biometric attendance systems, and faculty composition.
Sources have reported that the colleges were found to be lacking in several aspects, including improper installation and functioning of surveillance cameras, malfunctioning biometric facilities, and numerous faculty vacancies.
Affected medical colleges have the option to file an appeal within 30 days at the NMC. If the appeal is rejected, they may further approach the Union Ministry of Health.
The Implications of Recognition Loss for Medical Colleges and Healthcare Education
In December, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya cautioned that strict measures would be taken against medical colleges failing to comply with regulations or maintain adequate faculty. He emphasized the importance of providing quality education to students and producing competent doctors.
The potential derecognition of 150 institutions could lead to a crisis in the country, which has long faced a shortage of medical colleges and seats for aspiring medical students.
Also Read:Major Setback: Loss of Recognition for Four Prominent Medical Colleges in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry
Official data released by the Central government reveals a significant increase in the number of medical colleges since 2014. The count has nearly doubled, rising from 387 colleges in 2014 to 660 in 2023. Notably, the number of All India Institutes of Medical Sciences has grown from seven to twenty-two during the same period, as reported by the news agency ANI.
Furthermore, there has been substantial growth in the number of post-graduate seats available. Presently, there are a total of 65,335 post-graduate seats, more than twice the count in 2014 (31,185). Additionally, the number of MBBS seats has risen to 101,043, a considerable increase from 51,348 in 2014.
However, the potential derecognition of 150 medical colleges could significantly reduce the overall count by almost a quarter. In March, the Gujarat government disclosed that more than 1,900 positions remained vacant in government-run medical colleges and hospitals in the state, based on data until December.
