NMC asks medical colleges to ‘strictly’ follow guidelines of faculty development programmes

NEW DELHI: The National Medical Commission (NMC) observed that several medical colleges have restored to keeping the same faculty members in their Medical Education Unit (MEU) and Curriculum Committee (CC) defying the guidelines of medical faculty development programmes. In this regard, the NMC has instructed the medical colleges to rectify and ‘strictly’ follow the guidelines.

The commission reiterated that the Curriculum Committee (CC) is to ensure implementation and monitoring of curriculum at their colleges, conduct Curriculum Implementation Support Programme (CISP), time table scheduling among other duties. On the other hand, the MEU is to focus on training support, conduct of Basic Course in Medical Education (BCME) and other in-house training of faculty.

The only common member allowed in both CC and MEU is the dean or principal and convener or MEU coordinator. The conveners of nodal centres and regional centres were directed to ensure that the guidelines are being followed in the allocated colleges.

The commission further said that medical colleges will not be given permission for Basic Course in Medical Education (BCME) and Curriculum Implementation Support Programme (CISP) till the guidelines are followed.

However, medical colleges in 2019 or later were given a relaxation of one year till July 31, 2024, for forming the CC and MEU.

It also clarified that as a large number of faculty of medical colleges has to undergo faculty development programme (FDP), “up to 25% of training sections of BCME, CISP-III may be taken by faculty from MEU and CC mutually. This is only an interim measure till January 31, 2024.”