NMC fines 7 medical colleges Rs 1 crore each for not disclosing intern stipends | India News
New Delhi: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has imposed a penalty of Rs 1 crore on each of seven medical colleges across the country for failing to disclose stipends paid to MBBS interns and postgraduate medical residents despite repeated directives.The move follows non-compliance with an earlier directive to all medical institutions to publicly disclose stipend details on their official websites and ensure transparency in payments to interns and residents.Among the penalized institutions are Akash Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Devanahalli in Karnataka; Dumka Medical College, Jharkhand; Government Medical College, Barmer, Rajasthan; Government Medical College, Ongole of Andhra Pradesh; RKDF Medical College Hospital and Research Center in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh; Prasad Institute of Medical Sciences in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh; and Pandit B.D Rohtake Sharma Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Haryana.According to a notification issued by the Under-Graduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) of the NMC, several institutes have failed to provide the required information despite being given sufficient time and reminders. The commission said such failure is a breach of regulatory obligations under the National Medical Commission Act and relevant medical education regulations.The directive was issued in compliance with a court order mandating transparency in payment of stipends to medical interns and resident doctors. The NMC said continued non-compliance is a serious violation, especially in light of Supreme Court directives requiring payment of stipend to trainees.The regulator warned that continued violations could attract further disciplinary action, which could include restrictions on admissions, suspension of permits or other regulatory measures against the defaulting college.The commission had earlier directed medical colleges to publish stipend details on their websites to ensure transparency and uniformity in payments to interns and residents. Failure to comply with the order, the NMC said, will attract regulatory and disciplinary action under the applicable Medical Education Rules.
