NMC proposal to let MSc, PhDs teach at medical colleges will ‘dilute academic standards’: Resident doctors

NEW DELHI: The Federation of All India Medical Associations (FAIMA), an umbrella organisation of resident doctors’ bodies, has criticised the National Medical Commission’s (NMC) proposal to continue allowing ‘non-medical’ postgraduates to teach medical courses and relaxing the norms for diploma holders to become faculty.

In a letter to NMC, the junior doctors have claimed that the new regulations, which were released for public feedback by the medical education regulator last week, raise concerns about the “dilution of academic and professional standards” in post-graduation (PG) medical programmes. They also suggested the proposed policies aim to accommodate private colleges struggling to recruit qualified faculty.

The draft Teacher Eligibility Qualifications in Medical Institutions Regulations, 2024, have retained a provision from the current 2022 rules permitting those with MSc and PhD to teach ‘non-clinical’ subjects of anatomy, physiology and biochemistry subjects, though their appointments have been restricted to a ‘transitional period’, when enough qualified doctors aren’t available. The new rules also open up the senior residency programme to MSc and PhD holders.

Among other changes, the document also says that senior residents holding a diploma can become assistant professors at the same institute they worked. The post-graduates teaching diploma programmes are eligible to become professors after three years of experience.

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NMC Regulations: Concern over medical college standards

The junior doctors, however, believe that these norms will lead to downgrading of academic standards at medical colleges. “Guiding MD/MS/DM/MCh students requires a strong academic foundation, including the ability to mentor in research and thesis writing. Diploma and non-medical PhD holders, who typically have less exposure to research and advanced medical academics, may not be equipped for this role,” reads the FAIMA letter.

The association has also contended that allowing ‘less-qualified’ faculty to teach students will affect the reputation of medical colleges and will potentially affect global recognition of Indian degrees in the future.

“Doctors who are diploma holders have obviously not gained enough merit to qualify for MD. Also, such doctors have full insight that their degree doesn't qualify for regular faculty posts. Now this provision is a back door entry,” says the letter.

The organisation has recommended that diploma holders interested in teaching could be asked to undergo structured training programmes to enhance their academic and research skills.

It has also demanded that the colleges be strictly monitored and regularly audited to ensure compliance with teaching and mentoring standards.

Despite the revised regulations making them eligible for teaching roles, MSc and PhD too are upset. They have said that subjecting their recruitment to the unavailability of doctors is discriminatory and will lead to ‘academic apartheid’.