New Delhi: The National Medical Commission (NMC), through its Post-Graduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB), has introduced new guidelines for the interstate postings of MD/MS students, emphasizing a compulsory three-month clinical rotation as part of the District Residency Programme (DRP). These regulations, outlined in the Post-Graduate Medical Education Regulations (PGMER-2023), are aimed at improving medical training and expanding hands-on experience for postgraduate students.
Mandatory Three-Month Residential Rotation
The PGMEB has directed all medical colleges offering Postgraduate (PG) courses to ensure that MD/MS students undergo a three-month residential rotation in district hospitals or district health systems. The rotation is mandatory for all students in broad specialties, as part of the curriculum. This rotation aims to give students practical exposure to healthcare delivery at the district level.
The official notice specifies, “As per Section 5.2 (V) of PGMER-2023, all PG students pursuing MD/MS in broad specialties shall undergo a compulsory residential rotation in district hospitals or district health systems.”
Rotation and Training in District Health Systems
For PG residents in specialties where direct patient care is not involved, the rotation will focus on areas like diagnostic services, laboratory services, pharmacy services, forensic services, and public health programs. These residents will be trained in managerial roles and will work closely with District Health Officer and Chief Medical Officer teams.
Moreover, research units, laboratories, and field sites under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) or other national research bodies could also serve as training locations, broadening the exposure for students.
Approval Required for Interstate Postings
The NMC has also addressed concerns regarding interstate postings for PG residents. If students from one state need to be posted in another, the concerned state must seek prior approval from PGMEB. The guidelines stress that interstate postings should be rare and only considered in extraordinary circumstances. The NMC has clarified that such postings can occur only if the respective states or union territories mutually agree, and the PGMEB provides its consent.
Strict Adherence to Guidelines
The NMC has emphasized that No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for interstate postings must follow the proper procedures. Recent observations have indicated that some states have issued NOCs without adhering to the prescribed norms. The NMC has now instructed that all medical institutions strictly comply with the PGMER-2023 regulations in the posting process.
This initiative aims to standardize the training and rotation schedules for medical students across India, ensuring that all postgraduate residents gain comprehensive and hands-on experience in district-level healthcare services.
