Medical M.Sc. and Medical Ph.D. Educators Facing Crisis of Livelihood, Mental Health, and Professional Uncertainty, Urge NMC to Reverse Discriminatory Policy
Andhra Pradesh, 19th March 2025 (prajaamaravati): The National Medical M.Sc. Teachers' Association (NMMTA) has urgently called attention to the growing crisis faced by Medical M.Sc. and Medical Ph.D. educators in India, who are struggling with severe livelihood issues, escalating mental health concerns, and professional uncertainty due to recent policy changes by the National Medical Commission (NMC). These highly skilled educators, central to the foundational training of India's future doctors, have been disproportionately affected by the NMC's new regulations.
For years, Medical M.Sc. and Medical Ph.D. educators have been essential in teaching core subjects such as Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology, Microbiology, and Pharmacology. However, the recent policy revisions drastically reduce their representation in medical colleges, cutting their involvement from 30% to 15% in non-clinical subjects and completely excluding them from fields such as Microbiology and Pharmacology. This move, according to the NMMTA, not only threatens the livelihoods of thousands of professionals but also jeopardizes the quality of medical education, which will have far-reaching effects on India’s healthcare system. The policy changes have placed educators in an impossible position, leaving them unsure about their futures and exacerbating their mental health struggles. Many of these educators, some with decades of experience, are now facing career disintegration, contributing to a widespread sense of frustration and despair.
Medical M.Sc. and Medical Ph.D. educators are facing an unprecedented crisis. Historically, these professionals have been integral to the delivery of basic sciences education that serves as the foundation for clinical training. However, recent NMC policies are systematically dismantling their roles in medical colleges. The reduction of representation from 30% to 15% in key subjects has put their professional futures in jeopardy. The mental toll is also severe. Many educators, particularly those in mid- to late-career stages, are confronting stress, anxiety, and depression as they face professional marginalization and job insecurity. The NMMTA emphasizes that the removal of these educators from critical subjects is a direct assault on the quality of education for future generations of doctors, who depend on this foundational knowledge.
Dr. Arjun Maitra, President of the NMMTA, expressed his deep concern, stating:
"Our desperate pleas for livelihood have been ignored by the NMC. The Medical M.Sc./Ph.D. teachers in medical colleges are tired, exhausted, and depressed by the continuous discrimination they have faced from the NMC, particularly from its Under-Graduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB). The fear of an uncertain future at mid-career and late-career stages is taking a toll on their health and psyche. These educators are highly trained professionals who have dedicated decades to medical education. The NMC’s policies are systematically destroying their careers and livelihoods."
He added, "The UGMEB is working in a prejudiced manner, trying to uproot highly educated teachers from the medical education system. This policy will lead to a massive livelihood crisis among this community, which is estimated to be around 5,000 strong. Removing Medical M.Sc. and Medical Ph.D. educators from the system is equivalent to removing science from medical science itself." The NMMTA warns that the exclusion of Medical M.Sc. and Medical Ph.D. educators will have far-reaching consequences on the entire medical education system. These educators provide essential foundational knowledge that is critical for students to comprehend clinical subjects. Their removal will compromise the quality of medical education, leading to long-term repercussions on healthcare delivery in India.
Dr. Ayan Kumar Das, Secretary of NMMTA, highlighted the urgency of this situation:
"Instead of lowering academic standards and relaxing admission policies, the government and the NMC should focus on strengthening the academic foundation of medical education. By ensuring fair representation of Medical M.Sc. and Medical Ph.D. educators, we can enhance the quality of education in basic sciences and thus improve the clinical training of future doctors. The policy changes are compromising the integrity of medical education and are detrimental to the healthcare system as a whole."
The NMMTA is calling for immediate intervention from National Medical Comission to reverse the recent policy changes and restore fair representation for Medical M.Sc. and Medical Ph.D. educators in medical colleges. The NMMTA believes that excluding these professionals from key teaching roles will lower the quality of medical science education and ultimately affect clinical training. Furthermore, it urges the NMC to address the growing faculty shortage in India’s medical colleges, particularly in rural and tier-2/3 cities. The National Medical M.Sc. Teachers' Association (NMMTA) is an all-India organization representing Medical M.Sc. and Medical Ph.D. degree holders in five non-clinical medical subjects: Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology, Microbiology, and Pharmacology. The NMMTA advocates for the rights and recognition of these educators, ensuring their fair representation and contribution to medical colleges across India.
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