NMC Warns Medical Colleges Of Penalties Against Compulsory Hostel Stay For PG Students

In an official notice, the NMC has said that upon violation of the directives, medical colleges will attract penalties like monetary penalty, reduction of seats, stoppage of admission etc.

NMC Warns Medical Colleges Against Enforcing Hostel Stay For PG Students (Representational Image)

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In a stern warning to medical colleges across the country offering postgraduate medical education, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has warned such institutions that although it is mandatory for Medical colleges to provide adequate accommodation facilities for PG medical students, they cannot force these students to stay in hostels. In violation of the directive, the NMC has warned medical institutions of monetary penalty, reduction of seats, and stoppage of admissions. 

The move comes up after the NMC received complaints from medical students against colleges enforcing their hostel stay. The NMC issued the warning through an official notice. In its official notice, the NMC also underlined that the PGMER (Post Graduate Medical Education Regulation) 2000, consists of no provision that mandates PG students to compulsorily stay in hostels provided by medical colleges. 

“As per the regulation 5.6 of the Post Graduate Medical Education Regulation (PGMER), 2023, "It will be mandatory for the college to provide appropriate residential accommodation to post-graduate students. However, it will not be mandatory for the post-graduate students to stay in the hostel,” reads the official notice. 

“Similarly, there was no such provisions in the PGMER, 2000 for mandatory stay of the PG Medical Students in the hostel offered by the college . However, numbers of complaints have been received from PG students alleging that the Medical Colleges/Institutions are compelling them to stay in the hostel offered by the Medical Colleges/ Institutions and hefty amount is being charged on this account. This is a violation of Regulation 5.6 of the PGMER, 2023,” it adds further. 

Underlining several complaints received by medical students, the NMC further stated that medical colleges who fail to abide by the directives are likely to attract action like monetary penalty, reduction of seats, stoppage of admission etc. 

“Hence, all the Medical Colleges and Institutes are directed to take cognizance of the above-mentioned regulation, failing which NMC may take action as per Regulations 9.1 and 9.2 of the PGMER, 2023 which includes monetary penalty, reduction of seats, stoppage of admission etc,” it states.