New Delhi: To curb the malpractice of admitting fake patients to meet bed occupancy and investigation requirements, the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) of the National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued stringent guidelines for inspections.
Under the “Establishment of Medical Institutions, Assessment & Rating Regulations, 2023,” MARB inspectors can identify fake patients through the following criteria:
- Large numbers of admissions on or just before the assessment day, especially patients with minor ailments manageable through outpatient care.
- Lack of diagnostic evidence, such as X-rays or blood tests, or absence of treatment protocols like IV fluids or medications.
- In pediatric wards, children appearing playful and healthy without significant health issues.
- Multiple admissions from the same family or a high number of patients admitted via preventive health camps.
Penalties for Violations:
Institutions found engaging in “fake patient practices” will face severe consequences as outlined in Chapter 5 of the regulations. These include:
- Warnings with time granted for rectification.
- Monetary fines up to ₹1 crore per violation.
- Suspension of applications for new courses or schemes.
- Reduction in student intake for upcoming academic years.
- Suspension or cancellation of admissions to specific courses.
- Recommendations for withdrawal of recognition.
- Suspension of institutional ratings for up to five years.
- Immediate suspension of applications if undue pressure is exerted on NMC or MARB.
Background:
MARB inspections are a prerequisite for approving new medical institutions, courses, or seat expansions. Admitting fake patients to meet Minimum Standard Requirements (MSR) for clinical exposure has been a long-standing issue. In response, MARB issued updated guidelines on December 5, 2024, explicitly targeting this malpractice.
The NMC emphasized that violations are a serious breach of regulations and will invite strict action to maintain the integrity and quality of medical education.
