New Delhi: The National Medical Commission (NMC) is facing a severe staffing crisis, with all key positions—except the Chairperson and the President of the Postgraduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB)—remaining vacant, an RTI (Right to Information) application has revealed.
Despite the Union Health Ministry’s assurance that the appointment process is “under consideration,” the delay has raised concerns about the NMC’s ability to function effectively as an autonomous regulatory body for medical education in India.
Major Vacant Positions
The vacant posts in the NMC and its autonomous boards include:
- NMC Secretary
- President of the Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB)
- President of the Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB)
- President of the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB)
- Whole-time and part-time members of UGMEB, PGMEB, MARB, and EMRB
These key posts have been vacant since September 2024 despite applications being invited in August 2024.
Delays in Appointments Despite Early Warnings
Kerala-based health activist Dr. K.V. Babu, who filed the RTI, highlighted a pattern of delays in NMC appointments. He noted that:
“The NMC took charge on 25th September 2020, and its officials serve a four-year term till the age of 70. While the Health Ministry invited applications in August 2024, appointments remain pending, leaving most autonomous boards without leadership.”
Dr. Babu criticized the Ministry for not inviting applications well in advance to avoid leadership gaps, adding:
“Instead of functioning as an autonomous regulator, the NMC is now seemingly being run directly by the Government.”
Government’s Response
In response to Dr. Babu’s RTI inquiry regarding the names of applicants and their appointment status, the Health Ministry declined to provide details, citing Section 8(1)(d) of the RTI Act, which protects third-party information.
The Ministry reiterated that:
“The process of appointing eligible candidates to vacant posts in NMC is under consideration.”
Concerns Over NMC’s Functioning
The prolonged vacancies have raised serious concerns about medical education governance in India. With no Presidents in key regulatory bodies like UGMEB and EMRB, critical decisions related to medical education, ethics, and institutional assessments remain in limbo.
As medical professionals and stakeholders await action, the delay in appointments threatens to impact policy decisions, medical college accreditations, and overall governance in medical education.
