After Nagaland’s statehood in 1963, the National Medical Commission (NMC) granted the Letter of Permission (LoP) for the establishment of the first medical college in Kohima. For the academic year 2023–2024, the Nagaland University, Kohima’s Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences and Research received 100 MBBS seats from the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB). Based on the Physical Compliance Verification Assessment Report and the commitment made by the Commissioner and Secretary of the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Nagaland, to address all deficiencies identified by the MARB by May 31, 2023, the proposal has been approved. When the first batch accepted against the approved intake of 100 MBBS seats appears for the final exams, the college administration may raise the issue of acceptance of the qualification under Section 25(2) of the IMC Act with the National Medical Commission.

Nagaland’s main city of Kohima will now have a medical college. Since gaining its independence as a state in 1963, Nagaland has been without a medical college. The Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Phirebagie, Kohima, has been granted a Letter of Permission (LoP) by the National Medical Commission (NMC) to begin a medical college for the Academic Year 2023–2024. The plan has been authorized based on the Physical Compliance Verification Assessment Report and the commitment made by the Commissioner and Secretary of the Government of Nagaland’s Department of Health and Family Welfare. 

This article seeks to give additional details regarding the application procedure, the rules the NMC has established for the college administration, and the importance of establishing a medical college in Nagaland.

The LOP issued by the National Medical Commission’s MARB

The Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Phirebagie, Kohima, which is a part of Nagaland University, Kohima, received the Letter of Proposal (LoP) for 100 MBBS seats from the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) of the NMC for the academic year 2023–2024. The MARB ordered that the institution’s dean would be fully responsible for adhering to and maintaining the standards set forth in the National Medical Commission’s regulation throughout the academic year, including the infrastructure, both physical and human resource-related, teaching staff, clinical materials, etc.

Guidelines and the approval procedure for the college authorities

The LoP was released in response to the Physical Compliance Verification Assessment Report and the commitment made by the Commissioner and Secretary of the Government of Nagaland’s Department of Health and Family Welfare to address any shortcomings identified by the MARB by May 31, 2023. When the first batch accepted against the approved intake of 100 MBBS seats appears for the final exams, the college administration may raise the issue of acceptance of the qualification under Section 25(2) of the IMC Act with the National Medical Commission.Commission.

The Medical Admissions Review Board (MARB) said that it is necessary to build biometric attendance, a website on the medical college institution that displays all of the details of the college, courses provided, the faculty members who are available and their experience over the last five years, students who have joined, and the affiliating university. Additionally, it guided the display of hospital services, facilities, and equipment for each speciality. It also showed the OP and IP census, as well as births and deaths according to information kept by the municipal government.

The National Medical Commission (NMC)’s approval and issuing of a Letter of Permission (LoP) for 100 MBBS seats to launch a new medical college in Nagaland is crucial for the state. Since its statehood in 1963, Nagaland has been without a medical college; this initiative will give the state’s future doctors much-needed access to medical education. The Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences and Research will be the name of the new medical school, which will be a part of Nagaland University and have its headquarters in Kohima. 

The creation of a medical college in Nagaland and the enhancement of the state’s general healthcare system are goals that will be advanced with the ratification of the LoP. The commitment made by the Commissioner and Secretary of the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Nagaland, to address all issues by May 31, 2023, is also crucial for ensuring that the new medical college complies with regulations and offers its students a top-notch education.

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has taken a significant step towards enhancing medical education in Jammu and Kashmir by granting approval for 100 MBBS seats in two medical colleges: Government Medical College (GMC) Handwara and GMC Udhampur. The issuance of a Letter of Intent (LOI) by the NMC for these colleges has brought joy to aspiring medical students in the state.

The decision to approve 100 MBBS seats in each of the two medical colleges, GMC Handwara and GMC Udhampur, will result in an additional 200 MBBS seats in Jammu and Kashmir for the upcoming academic session of 2023-24. This move will create more opportunities for those who aspire to pursue MBBS and establish their careers in the medical field.

On Tuesday, the NMC sent two separate communications to the Government Medical College Handwara and the Government Medical College Baramulla, requesting undertakings. As a result, the NMC issued two separate LOIs for the aforementioned medical colleges.

Bhupinder Kumar, the secretary of the Health and Medical Education Department, has expressed his appreciation for the decision to approve 100 MBBS seats in each of the two medical colleges in Jammu and Kashmir. He stated that this move would have a positive impact on the health situation in the region, as reported by Greater Kashmir.

In an official order issued by the Member/President of the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) of the NMC, it was stated, “I have been instructed to refer to your application for the establishment of a new medical college at Government Medical College, Handwara, affiliated with the University of Kashmir, with an annual intake of 100 MBBS students under sections 26(1)(a)(b) and 28(1)(2) and section 61(2) of the NMC Act, 2019, for the academic year 2023-24.”

The proposal to approve 100 MBBS seats each in two medical colleges in Jammu and Kashmir was sanctioned based on an assurance given by the Secretary of the Health and Medical Education Department, as per the official order. The letter, dated March 21, 2023, with reference number HD/Pian/5/2022-02, stated that the government of Jammu and Kashmir will provide all necessary infrastructure facilities, teaching and non-teaching staff as per the norms specified by the NMC.

Consequently, the NMC has mandated that the essential documents and undertakings be submitted for the issuance of a Letter of Permission to begin or increase the number of seats for the academic year 2023-24.

An official order has stated that the applicant who intends to start new medical colleges or increase the number of seats must comply with the infrastructure requirements, including teaching and non-teaching staff, buildings, equipment, and hospital facilities, as per the guidelines specified by the National Medical Commission (NMC). The order further emphasized that no student should be admitted to the aforementioned courses until formal permission is granted by the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB).

Similarly, another official order has been issued for the starting of a new medical college at Government Medical College, Handwara, affiliated with the University of Jammu, with an annual intake of 100 MBBS students under sections 26(1)(a)(b) and 28(1)(2) and section 61(2) of the NMC Act, 2019, for the academic year 2023-24.

On March 25th, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the Sri Madhusudan Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, located in the Chikkaballapur taluk, which will offer all of its 100 MBBS seats for free starting in the academic year 2023-24. The college, which will be built less than a year after the foundation stone was laid by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in April 2022, will have 50 of its seats filled through the government quota, with the remaining 50 under the private/management quota. No fees will be collected from any of the 100 students, who will be required to serve for five years in the college hospital following their graduation.

The Prashanthi Balamandira Trust, which operates the college, will provide books, study material, uniforms, and hostel facilities for students at no cost. The college is affiliated with the Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence, a private university. The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) will oversee the admissions process for both government and management quota seats. The KEA is the nodal authority for admissions to all MBBS seats in Karnataka and collects fees for government and other quota seats in private colleges, remitting the funds to the institutions concerned. Fees for private medical colleges are fixed as part of consensual agreements signed with the government.

Ramya S, Executive Director of the KEA, said: “Our fee collection depends on the fee structure and seat matrix given by the government.” If the college proposes to the government that it will give its seats free of cost, and the latter writes to us to allot the seats of this particular institution free of cost, we will not collect the fee at all.”

On March 10, 2023, the Sri Madhusudan Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research was granted permission by the National Medical Commission to have 100 MBBS seats for the 2023-24 academic year. In preparation for the college’s opening, the Sri Sathya Sai Sarala Memorial Hospital, a 350-bed facility, was established on the campus several years ago, providing free health services to those in need. The trust has already appointed teaching faculty, who have been discharging their duties at the hospital, which will be used as a clinical facility for the students.

The home minister expressed hope that the college would start functioning from the 2023-24 academic year, and authorities worked tirelessly to ensure that academic activities would commence in August once the KEA’s seat allotment process is complete.

On Wednesday, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma revealed that the Nalbari Medical College has received approval from the National Medical Commission (NMC) to add 100 MBBS seats. CM Sarma praised this as a historic milestone for the state, as it has managed to establish four new medical colleges in just one year.

The establishment of four new medical colleges in one year has been deemed a historic achievement for the state by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took to Twitter to express his joy and share the news of Nalbari Medical College being recognized by the National Medical Commission with approval to admit 100 MBBS students. He added that this was a historic achievement for the state as four new medical colleges have been set up in just one year. The Nagaon Medical College was the first to receive NMC’s approval for 100 MBBS seats earlier. With Nalbari Medical College’s approval, it becomes the 11th medical college in Assam and the second one to be approved by the NMC in 2023.

The approval of 100 MBBS seats for Nalbari Medical College has resulted in the total number of MBBS seats in the state reaching 1,400.

Assam’s Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, took to Twitter to share the news about Nagaon Medical College receiving a Letter of Intent from NMC for 100 MBBS seats, calling it a “shot in the arm” for their efforts to improve healthcare. The college became the 11th in the state to receive the letter and the second one this year, following Kokrajhar Medical College.

Auraiya. The Government Medical College, which is being built near Sehud and Chichauli, has strengthened its preparations for the start of MBBS studies. The National Medical Commission (NMC) team may inspect the college in June to evaluate the quality of its resources, faculty, and staff. If all goes according to plan, admission will begin in August for 100 MBBS seats.

The path for the start of the 2023–24 academic year is almost clear following Principal Dr. Arvind Kushwaha’s posting to the college. The NEET exam will take place on May 7. By June, the outcome will be known, and only then is it probable that counselling will begin.

According to the college’s principal, the criteria for 100 open seats are now being met. At the moment, Chichauli’s district hospital has 300 beds available. Also, resources like the lab, lecture hall, lodging, hostel, etc. have all been finished. The medical college’s building is progressing quickly as well. There are plans in place for the first batch’s 100 available seats. For this, every staff member and resource has been sought. A meeting with the government is also anticipated soon. told that his main goal is to enhance the district’s medical services. He has a comprehensive outline for this ready. As such, work is being done. If the building project is not finished by the deadline, the 100-bed MCH wing of Chichauli Hospital will be included in the first batch’s study.

There will be appointments made to other positions, such as professor and assistant professor, prior to the start of the study. Posts to be outsourced will shortly be filled. While also being filled in accordance with the rules are the positions of Senior Resident, Junior Resident, Medical Officer, Chief Pharmacist, Dental Technician, Pharmacist, etc. The positions of deputy librarian, medical social worker, counsellor, computer operator, and data entry operator are among those that have been outsourced.

The shortage of physicians will end.

The district is severely lacking in physicians. In the government hospitals run by the CMO and the district hospital, over 40% of the doctor positions remain unfilled. As soon as classes in medical college begin, the doctor shortage will end. Students in training will work together to treat patients more effectively. Patients won’t have to wait in line for long periods of time in the district hospital’s OPD as a result.