NMC serves show-cause notices on all 22 govt. medical colleges in Karnataka
The National Medical Commission (NMC) has served show-cause notices on all government medical colleges in Karnataka for failing to meet standard parameters, including infrastructure and faculty recruitment.
A total of 22 government medical colleges are functioning in the State, and this is the first time that such notices have been issued to all.
The Department of Medical Education (DME) has expressed surprise that even the Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI), which has the best infrastructure and is most sought after by students, has been given the notice.
'There is some ambiguity in the NMC show-cause notices. For example, it states that BMCRI, which has the highest number of outpatients in the State, has the Outpatient Department (OPD) numbers wrong. So, we have doubts whether they have thoroughly checked the OPD numbers,' said B.L. Sujatha Rathod, Director, Directorate of Medical Education.
The NMC periodically asks all medical colleges having a valid letter of permission (LoP) for medical course admissions to submit and upload all details and documents on its portal as part of their annual declaration. Through a public notice on April 25, the commission had also asked colleges to furnish the information on minor operation theatres and major operation theatres.
The notices have been issued for not appointing faculty members in medical colleges that had been started recently, mainly in Koppal, Chickballapur, Chitradurga, and Chikkamagaluru.
The notice stated that the number of in-patients (surgical admissions) at the government medical college in Karwar was low.
It stated that OPD numbers were not adequate in some medical colleges, teaching and non-teaching staff were deficient, and equipment was not available in others.
Impact on seat enhancement
The 22 government medical colleges have a total of 3,500 MBBS seats. The State government, meanwhile, has submitted a proposal to NMC for an enhancement of about 800 medical seats for 2025-26. However, in the wake of the notices, there are doubts if the proposal will be cleared.
'Most of the colleges have already replied to the NMC's show-cause notices with appropriate documents. The NMC is yet to reply regarding the enhancement of seats. However, I have made it clear that these show-cause notices will not make any impact on the enhancement of medical seats. If the replies given by the colleges to the notices are not satisfactory, the NMC can impose a penalty,' said Dr. Rathod.
In 2024-25, the NMC had imposed a penalty of around ₹2 lakh to ₹15 lakh on 16 government medical colleges.
Speaking to The Hindu, Dr. Sharan Prakash Patil, Minister for Medical Education, said, 'All government medical colleges in the State have good infrastructure and good equipment. However, there is a shortage of faculty members in medical colleges that have been started recently. Earlier, appointments were made in all colleges as per the rules of the NMC Act, 2020. However, the problem is that the NMC has directed that appointments be made as per the 2023 Act.'
He said that a proposal has already been submitted to the government for recruitment of faculty members in medical colleges, and the Finance Department has to give its approval. 'In addition, the State government has stopped all recruitment processes until the internal reservation implementation processes are completed in the State. Government medical colleges have been allowed to recruit other faculties, including senior residents, on a contract basis. Most of the colleges have completed this recruitment process and replied to NMC's notice,' the Minister added.
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