According to the newly notified rules by the National Medical Commission (NMC), medical colleges that do not adhere to statutory provisions and NMC regulations may face a fine of Rs 1 crore per violation. Faculty members, heads of departments, deans, directors, or doctors who submit false declarations, documents, or records, including patient records, can be fined Rs 5 lakh. Additionally, they may also be penalized for misconduct under the Registered Medical Practitioner (Professional Conduct) Regulations and the ‘Maintenance of Standards of Medical Education Regulations, 2023.

If a medical college fails to comply with statutory provisions and regulations as prescribed by the respective NMC boards, the commission has the authority to withhold and withdraw accreditation for a period of up to five academic years.

The regulations further state that any attempt to exert pressure on the Under-Graduate Medical Examination Board (UGMEB), Post-Graduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB), or NMC through individuals or agencies will result in an immediate halt to the processing of all applications and requests by the medical institution.

In cases where the respective board suspects that a medical institution has failed to comply with statutory provisions, regulations, Minimum Standards of Requirements (MSR), or has acted against the goals of medical education and practice, the board can penalize the institution and conduct further inquiries as needed.

Medical colleges are required to submit an “Annual Disclosure Report” to the corresponding board, demonstrating their compliance with the prescribed MSRs and NMC regulations. The boards will evaluate these reports to ensure that the colleges meet the required conditions.

The evaluation criteria encompass various aspects such as physical infrastructure, qualified faculty availability, clinical material availability, teaching methodology, and other parameters related to medical education standards. The NMC can issue warnings, impose penalties, and recommend actions to the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) for non-compliance with the regulations, including withholding processing of new course applications, seat increases, reductions in student admissions, and withdrawal of accreditation for up to five academic years.

Source: PTI

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