NMC's New Move to Recognize Skill Enhancement PG Courses in Healthcare
NMC's Acknowledgment of Post-Doctoral Courses
The National Medical Commission (NMC) is set to recognize skill enhancement PG courses in healthcare, following complaints by postgraduate students pursuing these medical specializations. These post-doctoral certificate courses, such as paediatric endocrinology, laboratory immunology, and spine surgery, despite being taught in medical colleges, currently lack formal recognition.
Current Landscape of Medical Education
- Course Validity Issues: The absence of recognition for skill enhancement courses leads to complications for PG students.
- Financial Burden: The costs for these clinical exposure courses can range from ₹15-20 lakh.
NMC's Future Steps
The regulator has instructed medical schools to integrate these courses as post-doctoral certificates and Doctor of Medicine degrees. Additionally, institutions wishing to offer these programs must apply to the NMC's PGMEB and pay a fee of ₹250,000 per qualification.
Increasing Medical Education Capacity
Moving forward, the health ministry has ramped up the number of medical colleges and PG seats, striving to enhance the overall availability of healthcare professionals. A 5.92% increase in PG seats from 69,024 in 2023-24 to 73,111 in 2024-25 illustrates this commitment.
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.