NMC withdraws medical education standards with ‘immediate effects’, retains annual disclosure norms: Report

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has withdrawn the medical education standard regulations with immediate effects, PTI reported. The commission has also retained the requirement for medical institutions to submit annual disclosure reports, the report said.

According to the report, the NMC said that the regulations, notified and published in 2023, had been de-notified.

“The notification dated October 14 was issued in exercise of the powers conferred by Sections 10, 24, 25 and 57 of the National Medical Commission Act, 2019. However, the withdrawal of the regulations will not affect the statutory requirement for furnishing an Annual Disclosure Report (ADR),” the report read.

The withdrawal of the medical education standard regulations will remove the provisions for fines of up to Rs 1 crore per violation, restrictions on admissions, reduction in seats, and withdrawal of accreditation for up to five academic years, TOI reported.

It also removes the specific provision for fines of up to Rs 5 lakh on faculty members and medical college administrators found submitting false declarations or records, the report added.

Also read Maharashtra NEET Counselling: Pvt medical colleges move HC, want institute rounds of MBBS, MD admissions back

No change in ADR requirement: NMC

The NMC also stated in the report that the requirement of furnishing the Annual Disclosure Report (ADR) shall continue to operate in accordance with Section 24(i) and 25(h) of the National Medical Commission Act, 2019 and the regulations applicable from time to time.

It has also specified transitional and saving provisions to ensure that actions taken and decisions made under the 2023 regulations before their withdrawal remain unaffected, it added.

The de-notification will not affect any action taken or purported to have been taken under the regulations before their withdrawal, it said.

It will also not affect approvals, renewals, orders, decisions or directions granted or issued under the regulations before the date of de-notification, the report stated.

Moreover, any rights, privileges, obligations or liabilities acquired, accrued or incurred under the regulations before their withdrawal will also remain unaffected, it added.

It also emphasized that the applications, proceedings, appeals, inquiries and other matters pending immediately before the de-notification will continue to be dealt with under the provisions of the 2023 regulations, as applicable and subject to the terms of the notification.

However, matters arising on or after the date of de-notification will be governed by the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, and the statutory and regulatory provisions in force at the relevant time, the report read.