The National Medical Commission (NMC) has recently issued a comprehensive set of guidelines titled “Minimum Standard of Requirements for Postgraduate Courses-2023 (PGMSR-2023)” to ensure the quality of medical education in institutions planning to establish new medical colleges, introduce medical courses, or increase the number of seats for existing courses. These guidelines cover various critical aspects, emphasizing the need for compliance with standards to maintain high-quality healthcare education and produce competent professionals.
One of the key measures outlined in the guidelines pertains to institutions engaged in both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching. Such institutions must meet the minimum requirements for undergraduate training as specified by the Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) in the UG-MSR document, in addition to fulfilling extra requirements for postgraduate training.
The guidelines also emphasize the importance of adhering to national building norms and local statutory regulations for hospitals when constructing hospital buildings. In subjects like Radio-diagnosis, Anaesthesia, Pathology, Microbiology, and Biochemistry, an increase in faculty, infrastructure, and staff is mandated corresponding to the rise in the number of hospital beds. Additional provisions are also required if a department experiences a higher workload.
A crucial occupancy rate criterion is introduced, requiring approximately 80% of hospital beds to be occupied throughout the year by patients in need of inpatient care. Additionally, a minimum of 15% of total beds in a department imparting postgraduate training should be allocated as Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds or High Dependency Unit (HDU) beds exclusively for that department.
The guidelines stress the necessity of having adequate teaching facilities, with each teaching department mandated to have at least one teaching room with the capacity to accommodate an adequate number of students for clinical case discussions and demonstrations.
In-house laboratory and imaging facilities are also a focal point, with the guidelines specifying that these facilities should be fully operated by the respective department. Imaging facilities are expected to be contemporary and in line with the latest technology available for diagnosis and interventions.
The guidelines further advocate for the maintenance of digital records for investigations conducted in various departments and laboratories, highlighting the importance of efficient record-keeping systems.
Finally, each department is required to maintain a dedicated library with essential books and journals aligned with curriculum requirements, providing students with the necessary resources for their academic pursuits.
These guidelines collectively serve as a roadmap for medical colleges, emphasizing the significance of maintaining high standards in education, infrastructure, and facilities. Adherence to these measures is considered crucial for creating an environment that fosters quality medical education and produces competent healthcare professionals.
