NMC directs Bihar DME to probe RDJM College’s ‘illegal’ hostel fee, MBBS students’ internship row

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has asked the Directorate of Medical Education (DME), Bihar, to investigate the United Doctors Front’s (UDF) complaint against the RDJM Medical College, Muzaffarpur, alleging that the medical college was charging “illegal hostel fees” and restricting final-year medical students to join their Compulsory Rotatory Medical Internship (CRMI).

The NMC has asked the Bihar DME to investigate the matter and submit a detailed report within 15 days.

The action by the commission comes months after Rakesh Beniwal, national joint secretary of the UDF, on behalf of the MBBS batch 2021 of RDJM Medical College and Hospital, Turki, Muzaffarpur, Bihar requested the commission to direct the college to revoke the notice restricting MBBS students to join their compulsory internship.

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RDJM Medical College vs MBBS final-year students

In the complaint, the doctors’ group urged the NMC to direct the RDJM Medical College to allow MBBS final-year students to join their CRMI. The request from the doctors’ group comes after the medical college reportedly made hostel fees payment compulsory before joining the compulsory internship .

The management of the medical college was “illegally” preventing students, who completed their final MBBS exam, from commencing their CRMI, the complaint read.

“It is alleged that the college has made compulsory hostel residence and payment of hostel fees amounting to Rs 3,75,000 a pre-condition for permitting students to join the internship,” the complaint added.

Beniwal also urged the NMC to direct the medical college to allow all eligible non-resident interns to commence their CRMI without insisting on compulsory hostel residence or payment of hostel fees.

Also, he asked the authority to direct the college to refund the hostel fees collected from interns, who do not wish to apply for the hostel accommodation.

“Initiate an appropriate inquiry and take suitable action against the college for the alleged violation of the applicable NMC Regulations,” the complaint read.