New Delhi: A group of doctors has approached the Delhi High Court challenging the National Medical Commission’s (NMC) regulations that allow Medical MSc/PhD holders to be appointed as faculty in core MBBS subjects.
Plea by United Doctors Front
The petition, filed by the United Doctors Front (UDF), contends that the inclusion of non-medical faculty amounts to a dilution of medical education and violates constitutional as well as statutory provisions. The case will be heard on August 21, 2025, before a bench headed by the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court.
NMC’s 2025 Regulations in Focus
The NMC’s Medical Institutions (Qualifications of Faculty) Regulations, 2025 permit MSc/PhD holders to serve as faculty in Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Pharmacology. This restores the earlier allowance of up to 30% non-medical faculty in these subjects.
Rollback of 2020 Restrictions
In October 2020, the NMC had reduced non-medical faculty appointments to 15% in Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Physiology, while eliminating them entirely in Microbiology and Pharmacology. Prior to that, Medical MSc/PhD holders could occupy up to 30% of faculty positions per subject (50% in Biochemistry).
Recent Amendments Restoring Quota
On July 2, 2025, NMC issued an amendment to the UG-MSR 2023, clarifying that MSc and PhD degree holders may once again be appointed in the five non-clinical subjects, up to 30% of total posts, provided qualified medical faculty are unavailable.
