The National Medical Commission (NMC) has implemented measures to address the issue of ghost faculty in medical colleges. In its recent guidelines, the NMC prohibits faculty in medical colleges from practicing privately during college hours and mandates a minimum of 75% attendance. Additionally, the guidelines outline requirements for postgraduate courses, emphasizing that 80% of hospital beds should be occupied throughout the year, with at least 15% designated for Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds or High Dependency Unit (HDU) beds in departments providing postgraduate training.

The guidelines stress adherence to national building norms and local regulations for hospitals, considering various service provider aspects such as administration, records storage, outpatient and inpatient areas, operating theatres, radiology and laboratory services, and emergency areas.

The guidelines also call for an increase in faculty, infrastructure, and staff in specific medical disciplines based on the hospital’s bed capacity. Postgraduate medical colleges or institutes are required to have a minimum of 220 beds, with compulsory functional departments like biochemistry, pathology, microbiology, radio diagnosis, and anaesthesiology (when there are surgical specialties).

Furthermore, the institution must maintain in-house laboratory and imaging facilities, fully operated by the respective department, providing updated investigative facilities aligned with advancements in knowledge, science, technology, and research requirements. Digital records of investigations and a well-equipped air-conditioned blood bank capable of providing component therapy are also mandated.

Source: PTI

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