NEW DELHI: In a bid to tighten the noose on regulatory compliance in medical education, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has proposed making a dedicated fund mandatory for new and recently commissioned medical colleges, with a warning that incomplete applications will be rejected immediately.Under draft amendments issued this week to the 2023 regulations governing the establishment and expansion of medical institutions, any entity seeking to open a new medical college will have to submit an undertaking confirming that it will maintain a fund dedicated exclusively to the work of the institution. The amount will subsequently be determined by the Medical Evaluation and Evaluation Board (MARB) and may be reviewed from time to time.
The ruling also refers to already functioning colleges.Dr MK Ramesh, Chairman, MARB, told TOI that the previous regulations had mentioned a financial fund but did not specify any amount, making it difficult to implement. Instead of deleting the clause, the committee chose to retain it by obtaining a pledge from the colleges, with the exact amount determined after necessary deliberations. While the wording includes existing institutions, the intent is largely to ensure financial security for new and newly opened colleges.
Once the amount is determined, the amount will be uniform.The draft also represents a clear shift towards more stringent scrutiny of applications. He explains that under the NMC Act, the “scheme” is only valid when the application is complete with all mandatory documents. In the past, some applicants have submitted incomplete proposals and later sought additional time – or court intervention – to submit missing documents. The amendment aims to end this practice by stating that incomplete applications will be rejected initially, without any further opportunity.Mandatory documents include a valid basic certificate from the relevant State or Union Territory government, a valid affiliation approval from a recognized university, and a solvency certificate issued by a chartered accountant within 90 days before the application deadline.The regulatory body has also empowered itself to withhold the processing or reject applications for new programs or increase seats for specific academic years.
In a strong warning on compliance, the draft states that any attempt to pressure MARB or NMC through individuals or agencies could result in the immediate halt or rejection of the application.India has witnessed a rapid expansion of medical colleges and seats over the past decade. While growth has improved access to medical education, concerns about infrastructure gaps, faculty shortages, and financial sustainability persist. By mandating a collective fund and removing scope for incomplete proposals, the NMC appears to be signaling that future expansion must be supported by financial preparedness and full regulatory compliance.The draft amendments have been opened for public consultation for 30 days, after which the committee will decide to finalize the revised rules.
