NMC to verify medical colleges’ patient load through digital systems | India News
New Delhi: The way medical colleges are evaluated in India is quietly changing. Instead of relying mainly on inspection visits and paperwork, the National Medical Commission (NMC) now wants to verify their clinical work through digital systems.In a recent communication, the regulator asked all medical colleges to submit details of their hospitals’ Health Facility Registry (HFR) IDs within seven days. Colleges have been asked to share the status of their hospital software systems – whether they are integrated with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) platform and PM-JAY portal of the National Health Authority.Officials said the move is part of a gradual shift toward more objective, evidence-based evaluations. Clinical workload — number of patients treated, admissions handled and procedures performed — is one of the most important parameters when the NMC grants annual renewal, approves new courses or allows increase in MBBS and postgraduate seats.“Medical colleges are already aware that clinical workload is a key regulatory requirement. We are now using IT tools to verify what we are doing more objectively,” said a senior official.Each hospital has a unique Health Facility Registry (HFR) ID. By collecting these IDs and checking their linkage status with national digital health portals, the regulator will be able to cross-verify clinical data through existing platforms.Most teaching hospitals, being tertiary care centres, are already connected to the PM-JAY portal as they perform procedures under the government health scheme. Officials have clarified that it is not about forging new connections immediately, but about collecting verified details so that the commission can monitor the data more systematically.Till now, verification mainly depends on self-declaration of colleges and periodic physical inspection. NMC is now moving towards digitally verifiable parameters to strengthen monitoringThe commission also clarified that the move does not directly affect patients. The mentioned digital platforms are already operational for government projects. Current practice focuses on improving administrative and regulatory assessment.With a seven-day deadline to submit details, the regulator’s message is clear: future evaluations of medical colleges will be based on cumulative data that can be checked online, not just inspection reports.
