The National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued a public notice regarding hostel accommodation for PG Medical students in response to numerous complaints. These complaints allege that medical institutions are forcing students to reside in hostels and charging exorbitant fees for the same, according to an official statement.
According to NMC regulations, hostel accommodation for postgraduate medical students is discretionary. Regulation 5.6 of the Post Graduate Medical Education Regulation (PGMER), 2023, stipulates that while colleges must offer suitable residential options to postgraduate students, residing in the hostel is not compulsory, the statement mentioned.
The notice also highlights that the PGMER 2000 does not mandate colleges to provide hostel facilities for postgraduate medical students. However, despite these regulations, several complaints have surfaced regarding medical colleges/institutions pressuring PG students to stay in their hostels and levying substantial fees. Such actions contravene Regulation 5.6 of the PGMER, 2023.
The notice warns that failure to comply with these regulations may result in penalties imposed by the NMC. Medical colleges and institutes are urged to adhere to the aforementioned regulations, as non-compliance may lead to actions such as monetary fines, seat reductions, or even admission suspensions, as outlined in Regulations 9.1 and 9.2 of the PGMER, 2023, it added.
With inputs from ANI.