Representative image of a college classroom.
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Bengaluru: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has allowed non-medical faculty to teach subjects like anatomy, biochemistry and physiology, which are facing shortage of teachers due to decline in admissions to these courses, at the postgraduate level.
In the recently released new regulations impacting faculty appointments in medical colleges, particularly in Anatomy and other non-clinical departments, the NMC has allowed individuals with MSc or PhD degrees in Medical Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology, Pharmacology, and Microbiology to be appointed as faculty in these departments to teach the subjects, to the extent of 30% of the total sanctioned posts.
“In the departments of anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, microbiology and pharmacology, non-medical teachers may be appointed to the extent of 30% of the total number of posts in the department, subject to the non-availability of medical teachers. The above-mentioned non-medical teachers and the statistics in the department of community medicine should possess qualification in that particular subject from a recognised university as per requirements in medical institutions regulations,” according to the NMC notification.
Karnataka was one of the states which requested the NMC for relaxation of norms while hiring faculties for the subjects which are not in demand at the PG level. The data available from the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) during 2024-25 seat allotment for PG Medical courses revealed that of the 921 pre & para clinical seats available, 496 seats were left vacant after mop-up round.
Following the decline in demand, some private medical colleges in the state are offering these courses free of cost and some even providing stipends.
“Decline in demand for pre & para clinical courses affects the basics of medical education as there will be severe shortage of faculties in future and it will be a big problem. Even we had requested NMC to consider relaxing the same and we welcome the move,” said Dr Bhagavan B C, Vice-Chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences.
Subjects which have lost demand are: Anatomy, Biochemistry, Psychology, Community Medicine, Pharmacology, Micro Biology and Forensic Science.
The subjects in high demand are: Radiology, Pediatric, Anesthesia, ENT, Dermatology, Obstetrics and Gynecology and Orthopaedics.