New Delhi: An RTI query filed by a medical student has revealed that the Department of Medicine at Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar (BSA) Medical College, Delhi, is grappling with a severe staff shortage. The RTI response, dated November 11, 2024, disclosed that the department has no regular or contractual faculty members.
The student, who filed the RTI on October 29, 2024, and received the response on November 20, shared their concerns about the dire state of the department, calling it a critical lapse in an institution located in the nation’s capital.
Impact on Education and Patient Care
A senior resident at the college stated that the absence of faculty has been impacting both patient care and the academic progress of MBBS and postgraduate (PG) students. According to the resident, only one associate professor—designated from the hospital—remains to manage the department.
The senior residents, overburdened with dual responsibilities, are managing patient care while simultaneously teaching junior students. Another resident revealed that, in 2020, there were seven faculty members in the department. Over the past year, this number has dwindled to just one professor and three CMOs (casual medical officers), who have been reassigned from other departments due to the lack of professors.
NMC Faculty Requirements
The National Medical Commission (NMC) mandates specific faculty requirements for MBBS programs, depending on the number of seats:
- For 125 seats (as at BSA Medical College):
- Professor: 1
- Associate Professor: 3
- Assistant Professor: 4
- Senior Resident: 4
Currently, the department is functioning with just one professor, falling significantly short of the prescribed norms.
Additional Challenges
Residents have also highlighted other shortcomings in the college, established in 2016, including the lack of adequate infrastructure, proper hostels, and a structured teaching faculty.
The revelations have raised serious concerns about the quality of education and healthcare delivery at BSA Medical College, underscoring the need for urgent intervention by authorities to address the staffing crisis.
