The National Medical Commission (NMC) has taken a significant step by introducing post-doctoral fellowship courses in medical colleges under its regulation, marking a departure from the previous practice where institutions independently designed and approved such courses for doctor training.

In a recent development, the NMC issued the “Post-Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2023,” signifying that once a medical college obtains permission to initiate a postgraduate course or allocate seats, the course will be automatically recognized. This new approach aims to address challenges faced by students in registering their degrees post passing postgraduate exams, according to Dr. Vijay Oza, President of the Post-Graduate Medical Education Board at the NMC.

Under these fresh regulations, which replace the Postgraduate Medical Education (Amendment) Regulations, 2018, the existing NEET-PG examination will persist until the proposed National Exit Test (NExT) is operational for PG admissions.

Furthermore, the regulations outline that post-graduate students will function as full-time resident doctors with reasonable working hours and sufficient rest periods. They will be entitled to a minimum of 20 days of casual leave and five days of academic leave annually. The guidelines also stipulate one weekly holiday for post-graduate students, a provision that was previously absent.

Dr. Oza highlighted the comprehensive nature of these reforms, emphasizing their focus on improving standards in post-graduate medical education. Dr. Yogender Malik, a member of the Ethics and Medical Registration Board at NMC, expressed that these regulations represent a pivotal moment in ensuring the highest standards of medical education, emphasizing the commitment to nurturing a proficient and ethical healthcare workforce.

To ensure compliance, the regulations include a penalty clause allowing for monetary fines, reduction in seat capacity, or a complete halt to admissions. These measures aim to foster quality, ethical practice, and inclusivity within the medical fraternity.

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