
Dr Abhijat Sheth takes charge as NMC Chairperson, prioritizes quality medical education
New Delhi [India], July 13 (ANI): The Union Cabinet has appointed Dr Abhijat Sheth as the new Chairperson of the National Medical Commission (NMC), replacing Dr Suresh Gangadhar, who stepped down due to health concerns.
Dr Sheth, a cardiothoracic surgeon with experience in India and the UK, emphasized his commitment to improving the quality of medical education, promoting good governance, and fostering teamwork to achieve governmental objectives.
Speaking to ANI, Dr Sheth said, 'My primary focus is to improve the quality of education, easing the excess and aiming towards the good governance and teamwork to meet the governmental objectives.'
Dr Gangadhar had submitted his resignation due to health issues. ''Dr Gangadhar, former chairperson, NMC, had submitted his resignation last October. As there was no suitable candidate available, his tenure was continued,' Official Sources said
Dr Sheth is also the President of the National Board of Examinations in Sciences (NBEMS). He will soon be joining as the chairperson of NMC, following a mutual discussion with Dr Gangadhar, the sources said.
Dr Gangadhar's tenure saw significant reforms, including grading of medical colleges, WFME accreditation, and streamlined processes, bringing more transparency and consistency in functioning of NMC, revised and more practical CBME, tweaking the qualifications criteria for faculty to make it more user friendly, focusing on faculty development for better outcomes, getting all medical colleges to embrace patient safety at undergraduate level.
He institutionalised the use of Aadhaar Enabled Biometric Attendance System (AEBAS) for real-time monitoring of faculty attendance, and he also advanced a shift towards competency-based undergraduate education.
The National Medical Commision (NMC) is India's premier regulatory body overseeing medical education and practice. Committed to upholding the highest standards in healthcare education, N M C ensures the delivery of quality medical education and training across the nation. (ANI)

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Mint
36 minutes ago
- Mint
WHO sends Sheikh Hasina's daughter Saima Wazed on leave amid corruption charges
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has sent Sheikh Hasina's daughter, Saima Wazed, Regional Director for the South-East Asia Region, on leave amid corruption charges raised by the interim Bangladesh government. In a reply to ANI, WHO said, 'WHO's Regional Director, SEARO, Saima Wazed, is currently on leave.' WHO also said that Dr Catharina Boehme will serve as Officer-in-Charge during this period. "During this period, Dr Catharina Boehme is serving as Officer-in-Charge," the organisation stated. When asked further about why Saima Wazed was sent on leave, WHO said, 'We have no further comment at this time.' According to reports, action was taken after Bangladesh's Anti-Corruption Commission filed cases against her for fraud, forgery, and misuse of power. Dr Catharina Boehme is expected to reach the WHO SEARO office in New Delhi on July 15. Reacting to the action taken by WHO, Bangladesh Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said in a Facebook post on Saturday, "We welcome the World Health Organisation's reported decision to place Saima Wazed on indefinite leave amid ongoing investigations into serious allegations of fraud, forgery and abuse of power. We view this as an important first step toward accountability." He added, 'We firmly believe that a permanent resolution is necessary, one that removes Ms. Wazed from her position, revokes all associated privileges and restores integrity to this prestigious role and the credibility of the UN system as a whole.' He also said, "The people of Bangladesh and the global public are happy to see the emergence of transparency, honesty, and justice." (ANI)


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Centre appoints Abhijat Sheth as new chairperson of National Medical Commission
The government has appointed Abhijat Sheth as the new chairperson of the National Medical Commission (NMC), the apex medical education regulatory body . He succeeds Dr B N Gangadhar , who had resigned last October citing health reasons. However, he continued to work in the position as his resignation was not accepted as there was no suitable candidate available for the post. The Union Cabinet also appointed Dr M K Ramesh, former president of Post Graduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) as president of the Medical Assessment Board (MARB). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Even Beautiful Women Have Their 'Oops' Moments Read More Undo "The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for appointment of following persons to the posts mentioned below for four years from the date of assumption of charge of the post or till attaining the age of 70 years or until further orders," the order by the DoPT said on July 11. Currently, Dr Sheth heads the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) that conducts the entrance examinations for the post-graduate and super-specialisation medical courses. Live Events He will continue to serve as its head for a few months as the NEET-PG is is scheduled in August. Key posts in all four autonomous boards of the NMC have been lying vacant for the last nine months.


India Gazette
3 hours ago
- India Gazette
Union Minister Jitendra Singh invokes Dr B C Roy's legacy at IMA's Doctors' Day celebration
New Delhi [India], July 14 (ANI): Paying rich tribute to Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy, the world-renowned physician and doyen of medical academics, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Sunday invoked Dr B C Roy's legacy to emphasise the importance of restoring doctor-patient trust which was the hallmark of Dr Roy's era in the first half of the 20th century, Ministry of Science & Technology said. Dr Jitendra Singh, as the Chief Guest, was speaking at the Doctors' Day celebration organised by the national body of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) here. The event was attended by IMA National President Dr Bhanushali, President-Elect Dr Naik, Immediate Past President Dr Asoken, and other national office bearers of the IMA. Addressing a packed audience of medical professionals, Jitendra Singh invoked the legacy of Dr. B.C. Roy, reflecting on his immense contribution to both medicine and nation-building. 'One of the greatest traits of Dr. Roy was the unwavering trust he and his contemporaries commanded in society, without compromising his consultation fee or ethics,' he said. 'Dr. Roy charged a consultation fee of over Rs 66 in the 1940s, and nobody questioned it. Today, we must ask ourselves -- why has the same trust eroded?' he asked, calling for a revival of the doctor-patient trust, which, he emphasised, was the hallmark of Dr. Roy's era. Singh urged the medical fraternity to reclaim the dignity, integrity, and social faith that once defined the noble profession, while emphasising that the changing perception of doctors stems not from individual failings alone but from larger shifts in societal values. Recalling the legacy of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), the Minister described it as a 'pillar of Indian healthcare,' and lauded it as the largest and oldest body of medical practitioners in the country. Founded in 1928 during the 5th All India Medical Conference in Calcutta, IMA stands today as a formidable national force representing over 3.3 lakh doctors through 1,750+ local branches across 34 States and Union Territories. With its headquarters in Delhi, the IMA has remained at the forefront of shaping healthcare policy, strengthening medical ethics, and promoting public health awareness. Dr Singh praised the visionaries who gave birth to the Association during politically turbulent times -- legendary names such as Dr B C Roy, Dr M A Ansari, Sir Nil Ratan Sircar, and Col. Bhola Nath -- noting that many among them also played active roles in India's freedom struggle. 'Their mission was clear -- to promote advancement of medical sciences, improve public health, and uphold the dignity of the profession. That mission is more relevant today than ever before,' Dr Singh said. Jitendra Singh, who is himself a noted Professor of Medicine and Diabetologist, offered deeply personal reflections on the changing face of medicine in India. The Minister highlighted the shift from a time dominated by infectious diseases to a present-day dual burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases, creating both challenges and opportunities for Indian doctors and researchers. 'You name the disease -- we have it in India. That's why global researchers increasingly look to India,' he said. He also spoke about the paradox of India's demographic profile. 'We are a young country with over 70% of the population under 42, yet at the same time, we are ageing rapidly. Life expectancy has increased from 50 years in the 1950s to over 70 years today. This shift calls for a new curriculum, a new mindset, and a new model of medical practice,' he noted. The Minister emphasised the urgent need for a holistic, integrated approach to healthcare, blending modern allopathic medicine with AYUSH systems and cutting-edge technological advancements. He cited yoga as an effective tool in managing chronic diseases and called for dissolving silos between different systems of medicine, encouraging openness to integration rather than skepticism. 'The time for doubt is over. The world is moving toward integrative medicine -- not out of sentiment, but out of necessity,' Dr Singh said. He highlighted India's growing leadership in medical science, citing the DNA vaccine, gene therapy trials, and the development of indigenous antibiotics like Nafithromycin recent breakthroughs. He also pointed to emerging biobanks and genome repositories as critical to future research. 'We are not catching up anymore. We are setting the pace,' he remarked, urging young medical professionals to embrace this momentum. Concluding his address, Dr Singh called upon doctors to introspect and adapt, emphasising the importance of 'unlearning and relearning' in an era defined by rapid technological change -- including AI-assisted surgery, robotic diagnostics, and telemedicine. He also stressed the importance of bridging the public-private divide in healthcare delivery. 'It is time for whole-of-nation healthcare, powered by whole-of-medicine collaboration,' he stated. 'Let us honor Dr B C Roy not just by remembering him, but also by living the values he stood for -- trust, competence, and integrity. The IMA, as one of the strongest pillars of India's healthcare system, must lead this transformation,' Singh concluded. (ANI)