New Delhi : In a significant step to address the acute shortage of faculty in medical colleges, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued new guidelines permitting non-teaching doctors from government hospitals—including those in the defence and railways—to be appointed as teaching faculty.
According to the guidelines, a consultant, specialist, or medical officer holding a postgraduate medical degree and having served at least four years in a 220-bedded government hospital will now be eligible for the post of Assistant Professor in their respective speciality. Completion of the Basic Course in Biomedical Research (BCBR) is a prerequisite for appointment.
For promotions to Associate Professor, candidates must possess at least 10 years of experience and are required to complete the Basic Course in Medical Education Technology (BCMET) within three years of their appointment, if applicable.
“This inclusive policy applies to doctors in central services such as defence, railways, and other ministries,” said Dr. Gangadhar, underlining the broader scope of eligibility.
The NMC’s move also includes plans to draft retired specialists from the army, railways, and Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) into academia to fill over 700 vacant posts across government medical colleges. The revised Draft Teachers Eligibility Qualifications (TEQ) 2024 aims to tap into this experienced pool to stabilize faculty strength.
However, the National M.Sc. Medical Teachers’ Association (NMMTA) has raised objections, criticizing the new regulations for marginalizing M.Sc. and Ph.D. educators. “This move has disrupted thousands of teaching careers and intensified the faculty crisis,” the association said in a statement.
Despite opposition, the NMC maintains that the changes are a necessary course correction to bolster India’s medical education system with experienced practitioners.
