New Delhi: After getting no response to their pleas from the National Medical Commission on its decision to limit the number of non-medical teachers in medical colleges, the National M.Sc Medical Teachers' Association (NMMTA) has now approached the Union Health Ministry. Apart from demanding a rollback of the NMC rules and regulations that limited the number of non-medical teachers, and excluded them as examiners, they have also submitted their demands for a new council altogether.
The General Secretary of NMMTA, Dr. Ayan Das informed that they have demanded the formation of the National Commission for Scientists in Medical Education and Health Care. He questioned, "Without a council, how will we survive? Who will look after us?"
Releasing the "Guidelines for Under Graduate Courses under Establishment of New Medical Institutions, Starting of New Medical Courses, Increase of Seats for Existing Courses & Assessment and Rating Regulations, 2023" in August, NMC clarified that only 15% of the total number of posts in Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry departments would be filled by non-medical teachers.
"In department of Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, non-medical teachers may be appointed to the extent of 15% of the total number of posts in the department subject to non-availability of medical teachers. The above mentioned non-medical teachers and the Statistician in the department of Community Medicine should possess qualification in that particular subject from a recognised University as per requirements in Teacher Eligibility Qualification Regulations," NMC stated in the new regulations.
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Further, the Competency-Based Medical Education Curriculum (CBME) Regulations 2023, which came into effect on August 1, 2023, excluded the non-medical teachers altogether as the examiners for the undergraduate medical examinations.
"Person appointed as an examiner in the particular subject must have at least four years of total teaching experience as Assistant Professor after obtaining postgraduate degree following MBBS, in the subject in a college affiliated to a recognized medical college (by UGMEB of NMC)," the new CBME Regulations stated.
In fact, non-medical teachers face discrimination while employed even for the post of Tutor/demonstrator because a Ph.D. degree has been made mandatory for the same, in respect of non-medical teachers.
NMMTA has been protesting against these decisions by the Apex Medical Commission for a long time. Earlier, the association had also called for a co-existence with the medical teachers.
Explaining the current scenario, Dr. Das explained, "Even after repeated requests, NMC didn't budge to hear our pleas. They did not respond. We also filed our grievances before the NMC. They didn't call and listen to us."
He pointed out that NMC took back its decision in several cases including the mandatory prescription of generic drugs, and the rules of 100 MBBS seats per 10 lakh population. He opined that these decisions were taken back when the demands were backed by political pressure or money was involved in the matter.
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"We people who are in the minority and don't have any money, our pleas are going unheard," Dr. Das added. Explaining that even the court cases are pending for a long time and there is no solution yet, he further mentioned, "We feel abandoned by everybody. We followed the protocol. After the new MSR also, we filed a first appeal to NMC as per the NMC Constitution. They didn't respond within 45 days. They didn't even care to respond to it. So, as the NMC constitution says, we have filed the second appeal to the Ministry. It has been filed in late October. We are waiting for the directions from the Ministry."
When asked about the students pursuing non-medical specialisation, he added, "I can count around 4000-5000 administrative people who are in the system. Nobody has the data on how many students per year. We can't estimate."
Calling it the "complete apathy of the system", Dr. Das informed that they have demanded from the Ministry for the reversal of the NMC's order of removing the non-medical teachers. They have also appealed for a new council to take care of the issues faced by the non-medical teachers.
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