National Medical Commission Issues New Guidelines for Medical Colleges and Courses

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued a comprehensive set of guidelines under the Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) aimed at ensuring the quality and standards of medical education across India. These guidelines, referred to as the “Guidelines for Undergraduate Courses under Establishment of New Medical Institutions, Starting of New Medical Courses, Increase of Seats for Existing Courses & Assessment and Rating Regulations, 2023,” come into effect immediately upon publication in the Official Gazette.

The guidelines have been formulated in accordance with the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, and are designed to outline the minimum requirements for medical colleges and institutions, including accommodation, staff, teaching facilities, and equipment. They will be applicable to medical colleges established from the academic session 2024-25 onwards. Applications for new undergraduate medical education colleges will be considered for 50/100/150 seats.

Key highlights of the guidelines include:

• Admission Criteria: Only medical colleges that meet the prescribed requirements will be eligible to admit the permitted number of MBBS students from the academic year 2024-2025. Colleges seeking an increase in seats must meet specific criteria and are subject to certain limitations in seat capacity.
• Departmental Requirements: Medical colleges approved for undergraduate admissions must have various departments, including Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pathology, Microbiology, Pharmacology, and more, to provide comprehensive medical education.
• Accommodation and Facilities: The guidelines lay out specific requirements for medical college campuses, administrative areas, lecture theatres, small group teaching facilities, libraries, skills laboratories, research facilities, communication systems, student amenities, and more.
• Attendance and Monitoring: The guidelines mandate the implementation of an Aadhar Enabled Biometric Attendance System (AEBAS) and Close Circuit TV Monitoring to track attendance of faculty, residents, and students. This technology-based monitoring aims to ensure accountability and quality in education delivery.
• Hostel Facilities: Medical institutions are required to provide furnished accommodation for a substantial percentage of students, interns, and resident doctors, enhancing the learning environment and student experience.
• Community Health Centers: Affiliated Rural Health Training Centers (RHTC), Urban Health Training Centers (UHTC), and Community Health Centers (CHC) will play a pivotal role in internship training, focusing on community-oriented primary health care and rural-based health education.

The guidelines emphasize the importance of maintaining standards and quality in medical education while accommodating the evolving needs of the healthcare sector. With these measures, the National Medical Commission aims to promote excellence in medical training and contribute to improved healthcare services across India.

Medical colleges and institutions are expected to adhere to these guidelines to ensure the continuous enhancement of medical education quality and standards.