New Delhi14 minutes ago
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A protest was held against the National Medical Commission (NMC) in New Delhi on Monday.
Non-medical teachers from across the country protested against the National Medical Commission (NMC) in New Delhi on Monday (August 21). In this exhibition of National M.Sc Medical Teachers Association (NMMTA) Medical M.Sc/Ph.D. Those with degrees were involved. They said that our jobs will end due to the NMC guidelines.
They hold qualifications in non-clinical specialties such as anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology and microbiology.
Around 300 teachers participated in the demonstration in Delhi.
These teachers serve as tutors, assistant professors, associate professors, professors and heads of departments in various medical colleges. NMMTA is the registered national association for persons holding Medical M.Sc qualification. It is supported by various concerned associations and their members. About 300 teachers participated in the demonstration. The protest is against the steps taken by the NMC, which replaced the MCI.
Recruitment quota reduced to 15%
NMC has reduced the quota for appointment of non-medical teachers to 15%. Earlier it was 50% in Biochemistry, 30% in Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology, Pharmacology and Microbiology. Pharmacology and Microbiology have been completely removed from the quota.
The teachers are protesting against making Ph.D the qualification for the post of tutor.
Apart from this, the board has made other changes regarding non-medical teachers such as demanding a Ph.D qualification for the non-teaching post of tutor and trying to take away the role of examiner.
As per NMC Act, NMMTA filed an appeal in NMC, which was not considered. On this, NMMTA filed a second appeal in the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Now, after ascertaining the vacant posts and vacant MD Post Graduate seats in these specialities, the government directed the NMC to follow the earlier MCI guidelines for appointments of medical teachers. This order will remain in force till the decision on NMMTA’s application filed in the Delhi High Court.
Government orders are not being followed
Teachers are facing huge difficulties due to non-compliance of government orders. Only 15% recruitment means that only one or two teachers will be appointed in a department, said Dr. Ayan Das, Secretary, NMMTA. Those with Pharmacology and Microbiology cannot apply anywhere in the country. Due to the new guideline, they cannot change the college or place. Many teachers have lost their jobs. Medical M.Sc students do not have any job prospects after completing their syllabus.
Medical education includes both non-clinical and clinical subjects. Non-clinical subjects are taught by both doctors and non-doctors, while clinical subjects are taught only by medical teachers (MBBS and MD/MS).
NMMTA has 2235 members who are teachers in medical colleges.
appointments since 1960
To meet the shortage of medical teachers in the five non-clinical specialities, non-medical teachers have been recruited since the 1960s. Tukaram Prabhu, president of the NMMTA, said, “Non-physician teachers fail to teach basic medical sciences, not just in India, but across the world. In US medical institutions, only 8-11% of teachers in these subjects are physicians. Everyone else is a non-physician.
shortage of medical teachers
There has been an increase in MD seats in non-clinical specialties over the years, yet 40-50% of them remain vacant every year, as MBBS UG students prefer clinical specialties. Therefore, there is still a shortage of medical teachers. We provide a solution to this problem.
The syllabus of Medical M.Sc is similar to the MD syllabus of Medical Science. Often, these two courses run side by side in medical college departments taught by medical professors. All aspects of training are the same. Even the university exam process is same. Our health universities give degrees in the field of medicine. Thus, we are prepared equally for all roles except clinical practice.
No negative effect from one or two non-medical teachers
The introduction of Competency Based Medical Education (CBME) syllabus in medical education and the availability of medical teachers are considered to be the reasons for these changes. Dr. Ayan refutes this saying, MBBS students have the capability to teach only through postgraduate courses, be it Medical M.Sc or MD, and both are trained in the same way.
70% of teachers are already doctors, so the presence of one or two non-medical teachers may not have a negative impact on medical education. He said that the claim of availability of medical teachers is wrong, as there is a serious shortage of teachers in colleges in rural, remote or hilly areas. Doctors usually do not go here.
Doctors’ control over NMC
Dr. Prabhu emphasized on this and said, be it former MCI or present NMC, doctors have control over it. There is no place for us in this.
UGC has not made any Ph.D mandatory for Assistant Professor post, but NMC has made it mandatory for even the lowest non-teaching post. We are being thrown out of teacher training programs and we are being denied our basic educational role of examiner.”
Our experience is also ignored. UGC allows Doctorate both full time and part time, but NMC demands only in-campus Ph.D. NMC’s steps create difficulties for us every time.
It is our request to the government to replace the UG board with such members who have enmity towards us.
2235 members in NMMTA
NMMTA currently has 2235 members, mostly teachers in various medical colleges across India. These include prestigious institutes like AIIMS, PGIMER etc. There are more than 3000 non-medical teachers working in various medical colleges of India.
