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Hans India
21-05-2025
- Health
- Hans India
IMA seeks CEA exemption for hosps across Telangana
Hyderabad: The Telangana unit of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has urged the government to exempt small hospitals and clinics with 50 beds from the Clinical Establishment Act (CEA) on the lines of Haryana and Bihar. It has written to Health secretary Dr Christina Chongtu with a charter of demands. President Dr D Dwarakanatha Reddy urged the government to exempt from the Act. He said the CEA provisions were adversely affecting small hospitals and clinics and requested the government to adopt the model of Haryana and Bihar, which have exempted hospitals below 50 beds from CEA regulations. Among other demands, the IMA has raised the issue of violence against doctors. Dr Reddy spoke of rise in attacks on doctors due to inadequate legal protection and urged the government to amend the law to increase imprisonment from 3 years to 7 years, making it a non-bailable offence; ensure direct FIR registration with preliminary expert review. He wanted single window clearance for registrations and renewals for hospital registrations, renewals and licences as multiple NOCs and repeated harassment by authorities (fire, GHMC, PCB). Stating that over 10 lakh quacks were practicing, putting patients at risk, the IMA requested the government to enforce Section 34 and Section 54 of NMC Act rigorously, form Anti-Quackery Committees at district levels under TSMC/IMA supervision; mandate production of MBBS/PG degrees for prescribing allopathy.
The Hindu
16-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
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.
The Hindu
11-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Ayurveda and Homoeopathy graduates found practicing allopathy in Sangareddy
In a major crackdown on illegal practice of allopathic medicine, the Telangana Medical Council (TGMC) has found several ayurvedic and homoeopathic graduates unlawfully practicing allopathic medicine across various parts of Sangareddy district. The inspections, conducted in response to public complaints, revealed unauthorised use of steroids and painkillers and unlicensed clinics, posing serious threats to public health. Led by TGMC president Mahesh Kumar, five inspection teams combed through around 25 clinics and hospitals located in Old Bus Stand, Malkapur, Isnapur, Sadashivpet, Konkole, Daulatabad, Narsapur, and Zaheerabad. During the inspections, officials uncovered that several individuals with BAMS, BHMS and qualifications were not only practicing allopathic medicine without authorisation but were also administering medications typically reserved for use by licensed allopathic doctors. Some facilities were found operating without any formal registration or licenses, TGMC said. Such actions violate Sections 34 and 54 of the National Medical Commission (NMC) Act, and the TGMC has announced strong measures to address these violations. 'A detailed report will be submitted to the District Collector and the District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO). Clinics and hospitals found without proper registration will face legal action, including recommendations for closure. The Medical Council will file FIRs against those violating the NMC Act. All further proceedings will be pursued through legal means,' said Dr. Mahesh Kumar.
New Indian Express
01-05-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
NMR yet to take off; less than 1% of doctors have applied for enrollment so far
NEW DELHI: The National Medical Register (NMR), a centralised database of registered medical practitioners in modern medicine in the country, has received less than one per cent of doctor applications for enrollment in the last eight months despite it being mandatory for registered doctors in India to enrol in the central registry. But what is shocking is that out of the less than one per cent of doctors who have so far applied for NMR, which was launched with great fanfare by Union Health Minister J P Nadda on August 23, 98 per cent of applications have not been approved. There are over 13 lakh registered medical practitioners (RMPs) in India. According to an RTI, the National Medical Council (NMC) received 10,411 applications till April 24. The RTI reply, dated April 29, said that the total number of applications not approved to date is 10,237, including 139 applications where queries were raised. 'The total number of applications rejected to date is two,' the reply said. According to Kerala-based Dr K V Babu, who filed the RTI, according to information provided by the NMC, 13,08,009 allopathic doctors were registered with the State Medical Councils (SMCs) and the NMC as of June 2022. 'The RTI has revealed that 10,411 applications were submitted, of which the NMC has not approved 10,237. The NMC should understand the implications of 98% non-approval of the applications. Of the over 13 lakh doctors, over 10,000 applicants have even applied for the registration in about eight months. It is just 0.8% of the total doctors in India,' Dr Babu told this paper. He said what is ironic is that 98% of applications have not been approved. The NMR is mandated under Section 31 of the NMC Act, 2019, which states that the Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) of NMC shall maintain a national register in electronic form containing the name, address, and all recognised qualifications possessed by a licensed medical practitioner. As per the gazette notification of May 10, 2023, enrolling is mandatory in NMR, which Nadda had described as a comprehensive and dynamic database for allopathic (MBBS) registered doctors in India at the time of its launch. The RTI activist said there are a few takers for NMR because the registration process has become very complicated. He said that once the registration number and degree certificates are verified by the SMCs, the NMC should automatically enrol doctors, as the erstwhile Medical Council of India (MCI) did in the past. But in the new process, the doctors are asked not only to upload Aadhar but also to submit an affidavit if their names or state medical council names do not match the current data. 'NMC should withdraw the direction to upload the affidavit,' said Dr Babu, one of the doctors who faced immense problems getting himself registered because the name on his Aadhaar and his certificate was different. Dr Babu said the situation was brought to the attention of the NMC chairman last year in October. 'Instead of rectifying the mistake, NMC is continuing the ineffective method of NMR registration, which will be disastrous. If this continues, it will take 100 years for doctors to be registered.' The Indian Medical Association (IMA), which has four lakh members, also took up the matter with the NMC last year.
New Indian Express
29-04-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
PMO directs Union Health Ministry to address non-payment of stipends to medical college interns, residents
NEW DELHI: The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has directed the Union Health Ministry to take 'appropriate action' addressing the non-payment of stipends by medical colleges to interns and residents. As many as Despite the mandate, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has yet to take against the institutes for the non-payment of stipends. In fact, the The PMO's directive to the ministry came in response to an RTI filed by Kerala-based activist Dr K V Babu, who has been pursuing the matter for the past two years. In the RTI reply, the PMO said that Dr Babu's letter was received by the PMO on March 21 and has been forwarded 'for action as appropriate' through the Public Grievances Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) to the Department of Health and Family Welfare. 'Redressal of grievance is under the purview of appropriate authority dealing with subject-specific. Therefore, the information sought relates to the authority concerned to which the complaint was forwarded,' the RTI reply, dated April 24, said. Dr Babu said he had written to the PMO after the NMC did not take any action and the health ministry failed to ensure the Council followed rules. "Here is a peculiar situation, and hence, I have made the request to the PMO. The State Medical Councils have no jurisdiction on this issue, and the NMC has failed to take action, while the Health Ministry has been evasive, though payment of stipend to MBBS interns and PG doctors is mandatory. Non-payment of stipend is punishable, as per the NMC regulations,' Dr Babu added. "I do believe intervention by the PMO will end the injustice to interns and PG doctors who are not being paid any stipend or even nominal stipends by many medical college managements across the nation," he added. On January 29, Dr Babu wrote to Union Health Minister JP Nadda and urged him to intervene under Section 45 of the NMC Act, which gives the central government the power to issue policy directions to the Commission and Autonomous Boards. He then wrote to the PMO on March 16. When he did not receive a response, he filed an RTI on March 23 to seek the status of his letter to the PMO.
