70 medical colleges fail to comply with National Medical Commission (NMC) video surveillance requirements

According to the National Medical Commission (NMC), seventy medical colleges and hospitals, including several large government institutions in Delhi, have failed to meet the mandatory requirement of connecting video surveillance systems to the regulator's Command and Control Center. This requirement has been repeatedly stated since 2022.

List of Non-Compliant Institutions

Among the institutions that do not meet the requirements are organizations such as Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences (ABVIMS), Dr. Rama Manohar Lohia Hospital, Maulana Azad Medical College, University Medical College of Sciences and GTB Hospital, ESIC Basaidarapur Medical College, G.B. Pant Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Chacha Nehru Children's Clinic, Central Bureau of Medical Education, and the Indian Railway Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research in Delhi.

NMC Requirements for Video Surveillance

NMC norms mandate that all medical colleges install twenty-five CCTV cameras in specified locations, store recordings for thirty days, and provide the Commission with direct access via a Network Video Recorder (NVR). This system allows the regulator to remotely monitor the institution's operations, including classroom teaching, clinical activities, and adherence to established standards.

Reaction and Next Steps

The Commission stated that it has repeatedly contacted the colleges that have not installed the required video surveillance systems or shared live feeds, despite numerous notifications and communications sent since 2022. All such institutions have now been directed to rectify the violations immediately. The administration of RML Hospital responded to its inclusion on the list of violators, informing TOI: 'We have already discussed this matter and are resolving it.'

An NMC representative told TOI: 'Medical colleges were given a chance to explain the deficiencies. If the responses are unsatisfactory, appropriate regulatory action will follow. The video surveillance system is part of a broader digital compliance framework that allows us to remotely verify teaching, clinical activity, and adherence to NMC norms.'

Geography and Context of the Issue

This list covers both undergraduate and postgraduate medical colleges managed by both government and private entities across the states of Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal.

The relevance of this issue is increasing against the backdrop of heightened focus on campus safety and video surveillance in medical institutions following the alleged case of rape and murder of an intern at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata last year. Nevertheless, the NMC's video surveillance monitoring system was implemented even before this incident, in 2022, as part of a broader digital mechanism to strengthen oversight of medical colleges.

timesofindia.indiatimes.comJuly 10, 07:54

National Medical Commission issues conditional extension letters to over 800 medical colleges

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued conditional extension letters to more than 800 medical colleges as the regulator reforms its inspection system. The standard annual check is being replaced by surprise assessments, and institutions are given 45 days to rectify deficiencies before subsequent reviews.

Change in Monitoring Approach

This move marks a significant shift in the methods of overseeing medical educational institutions. Instead of mandatory annual inspections before granting student admission, the NMC has provided conditional extensions for the 2026-27 academic year. This allows colleges to continue admitting students, while the extension is contingent upon subsequent physical, virtual, or hybrid evaluations conducted by the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB).

Requirements and Consequences

According to the standardized Extension Letter issued by the NMC, colleges must address all existing issues concerning infrastructure, faculty, and clinical load within 45 days. The letter states that if deficiencies are found during subsequent MARB evaluations, the Board will initiate appropriate actions.

The Chairman of MARB, Professor MK Ramesh, told TOI: 'We have moved from annual extension checks to conditional extensions with subsequent random checks. Colleges have been given a chance to correct shortcomings, but if deficiencies persist during subsequent MARB evaluations, appropriate regulatory measures will follow.'

New Oversight Mechanism

Officials noted that the new mechanism is introduced to ensure continuous oversight of medical colleges without disrupting academic activities. Unlike the previous system where institutions prepared for scheduled inspections, colleges are now expected to maintain constant compliance throughout the entire academic year.

According to officials, the most frequently identified deficiencies relate to infrastructure, faculty availability, and the volume of clinical load. Depending on the nature and severity of the violations found during subsequent checks, the Commission may reduce student intake, withdraw seats, or suspend admissions.

Increasing Process Transparency

The regulator has also unified the format of extension letters, replacing the previous practice of issuing different formats for various institutions. The goal of this step is to ensure greater uniformity and transparency in the extension process. Experts believe that the new system should prevent temporary adherence to norms before inspections and guarantee that institutions maintain established standards constantly. Surprise checks will provide a more accurate picture of how consistently colleges meet regulatory requirements, rather than just on the day of inspection.