National Medical Commission Faces Vacancy Crisis in Key Positions
National Medical Commission's Ongoing Challenges
NEW DELHI: The National Medical Commission (NMC), responsible for regulating medical education and professionals, currently has 10 out of 19 key positions vacant, highlighting a significant delay in appointments. An RTI response dated October 24 indicated that the 'appointment to various posts in NMC is under process.'
Impact of Vacancies on Medical Governance
RTI activist KV Babu expressed concern over the prolonged vacancies, noting that the Union health ministry's prior responses showed no progression since January. Notably, key roles such as the president of two autonomous bodies remain unfilled.
- Out of 19 key positions
- 10 key roles vacant
- Regulatory impact on medical education
Details of Unfilled Positions
The NMC, an autonomous body with 33 members, appointed chairman Dr. BN Gangadhar full-time in July. However, critical positions within the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) and the Postgraduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) remain unoccupied, affecting operational efficiency. Meanwhile, three out of five roles in the Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) are still vacant.
Urgency in Filling Leadership Roles
The lack of appointed leadership not only hinders the functioning of these boards but also raises questions about regulatory standards for medical education nationwide. The timeline suggests a year has been wasted on fulfilling these critical roles, with urgent recruitment invitations issued recently.
This article was prepared using information from open sources in accordance with the principles of Ethical Policy. The editorial team is not responsible for absolute accuracy, as it relies on data from the sources referenced.