MedicalEducation – NMC Faces Questions Over Lack of Transparency on Stipend Violations
MedicalEducation – The National Medical Commission (NMC) is facing growing scrutiny after a series of Right to Information (RTI) responses indicated that the regulator has not clearly disclosed what action, if any, has been taken against medical colleges accused of violating stipend-related rules for interns and postgraduate students over the last three years.
The issue has gained significance at a time when the Supreme Court has already expressed concern over delays by the NMC in responding to a petition that alleged a large number of medical colleges across the country were not providing stipends to MBBS interns as required.
Questions Over Regulatory Action
Although the NMC has periodically issued public notices claiming action against institutions that failed to comply with stipend regulations, detailed information about those actions has remained unavailable. RTI applications seeking specifics have repeatedly received limited or incomplete responses, raising concerns about transparency in the enforcement process.
The matter revolves around compliance with the Maintenance of Standards of Medical Education Regulations (MSMER), 2023. Under these regulations, medical colleges found violating prescribed norms, including the non-payment of stipends to interns and postgraduate students, can face serious penalties ranging from financial sanctions to the withdrawal of permissions and even closure.
RTI Responses Draw Criticism
Kerala-based ophthalmologist and RTI activist Dr. K. V. Babu, who has pursued the stipend issue for several years, has filed multiple RTI applications seeking details of actions taken against both government and private medical colleges.
According to Dr. Babu, the information provided by the regulator has been inadequate. He argued that despite repeated requests under the RTI Act, the Commission has not furnished clear records showing what enforcement measures were taken against institutions accused of violating stipend norms.
He further stated that while the MSMER regulations were officially notified in September 2023, there has been no publicly available evidence demonstrating significant action against colleges found guilty of non-compliance.
Information Not Available in Compiled Form
In one RTI application, Dr. Babu requested details of actions taken by the NMC and its boards against medical colleges that allegedly failed to comply with MSMER provisions from September 19, 2023, onward.
The Commission responded in April by stating that the requested information was not maintained in a compiled format. Unsatisfied with the explanation, Dr. Babu filed an appeal seeking more comprehensive disclosure.
However, in a subsequent response issued in May, the NMC again did not provide the requested records. Instead, it directed the applicant to previously issued notices concerning action against certain medical colleges.
Concerns Over Stipend Recovery Practices
Another issue highlighted through RTI applications relates to allegations that some institutions paid stipends to postgraduate students but later required them to return the money to management authorities.
The NMC’s own survey conducted in 2023 collected information from 7,901 postgraduate students studying in 213 self-financed and private medical colleges spread across 19 states. The findings revealed that around 16 percent of surveyed students reported having to return their stipend after receiving it.
Despite the significance of the findings, the names of the institutions involved have not been publicly disclosed. Requests seeking identification of these colleges have reportedly not yielded detailed responses from the regulator.
Calls for Greater Transparency
Critics argue that the absence of publicly available records makes it difficult to assess whether regulatory measures are being enforced effectively. They also point out that while the Commission has publicized penalties imposed on some institutions for failing to submit required information, detailed records concerning stipend-related violations remain unavailable.
Dr. Babu maintains that greater transparency is necessary to ensure accountability within the medical education system. According to him, the lack of accessible information regarding enforcement actions raises important questions about how stipend regulations are being monitored and implemented across the country.
As concerns over medical education standards continue to attract attention, the debate over stipend compliance and regulatory disclosure is expected to remain under close watch from students, medical professionals, and policymakers alike.