Latest news with #MinimumStandardRequirements
The Hindu
01-08-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Many MBBS seats remain vacant in country, says Union Minister Anupriya Patel
Despite a substantial increase in the number of MBBS seats across the country, a significant number of undergraduate medical seats have remained vacant in the recent academic years, the Union Government has admitted in the Lok Sabha. Responding to a question from Eluru MP Putta Mahesh Kumar, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel said that 2,012 undergraduate medical seats went unfilled in 2021–22, followed by 4,146 in 2022–23, 2,959 in 2023–24, and 2,849 in 2024–25. These figures, sourced from the National Medical Commission, exclude AIIMS and JIPMER institutions. The Union Minister emphasised that while the government increased the MBBS seats by 39% in the last five years — from 83,275 in 2020–21 to 1,15,900 in 2024–25 — vacancies persist, underscoring concerns around access, affordability, and distribution of institutions. To enhance quality, the Centre introduced the 'Minimum Standard Requirements–2023', mandating infrastructure norms such as a 220-bed hospital for every 50 students and compulsory rural and urban clinical training. Under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), 157 new medical colleges had been approved, with 131 operational, and 75 super-speciality projects sanctioned, of which 71 were complete. Additionally, 19 out of 22 new AIIMS had commenced undergraduate courses. These efforts, the Union Minister said, demonstrate the Centre's commitment to strengthening healthcare infrastructure and access to quality medical education across India.
Time of India
06-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Govt Restores 30 per cent Faculty Quota for MSc/PhD Holders in Medical Colleges
New Delhi: Revisiting faculty norms in medical education, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has reinstated the 30 per cent appointment quota for non-medical faculty — MSc/PhD degree holders — in non-clinical departments such as Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Pharmacology. In its latest gazette notification, the country's apex regulatory body for medical education stated, 'In the departments of Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Pharmacology, non-medical teachers may be appointed to the extent of 30 per cent of the total number of posts in the department, subject to the non-availability of medical teachers.' This marks a reversal of the earlier move under the 2020 Minimum Standard Requirements (MSR) guidelines, where the ceiling for non-medical faculty had been reduced to 15 per cent, triggering concern and legal challenges from affected professionals. Dr Arjun Maitra, President of the National Medical Teachers' Association (NMMTA), welcomed the move, stating, 'The ministry has stood by the principles of fairness and meritocracy. This reform brings relief to hundreds of highly qualified MSc/PhD faculty members who were unfairly sidelined.' Although NMMTA's legal petition against the previous guidelines is still pending, Dr Maitra said the Ministry's decision to resolve the issue through policy reflects a commitment to justice and inclusivity. 'We see this as a milestone in our long and difficult journey toward recognition and respect,' he added. Previously, the NMC had also restricted such faculty to teaching only during a "transitional period" — without defining its duration — and did not clarify the scope of applicability. The lack of specificity led to confusion and anxiety among educators. Dr Ayan Das, Secretary of NMMTA, stressed the need for further clarity. 'To avoid ambiguity and alleviate concern among current faculty, the body must now clearly define the 'transition period' and correct misinterpretations around UGC norms — particularly the misconception that part-time PhDs earned in-service are invalid. Only distance-mode PhDs are not recognised.' The reinstatement is being seen as a significant step toward equity in academic appointments, especially in the backdrop of a growing demand for quality educators in India's expanding network of medical colleges.
