No action yet against NMC over stipends to interns

THE Union Health Ministry is evasive about taking action against the National Medical Commission (NMC) for failing to follow the norms on the non-payment of stipends by medical colleges to their interns and postgraduate residents.

- KAVITA BAJELI-DATT @New Delhi

Another RTI revealed that the NMC, which regulates medical education in India, has many crucial positions vacant.

Kerala-based Dr K V Babu, who has filed multiple RTIs on the issue for two years, had written to the ministry and Union Health Minister J P Nadda on January 29.

He urged the minister to intervene under Section 45 of the NMC Act against the Commission for failing to take action against medical colleges and institutions on the stipend issue.

As per Section 45 of the NMC Act, the Centre can issue policy directions to the Commission and Autonomous Boards. However, the ministry's RTI reply said, "The required information desired is not traceable in the Medical Education Policy section, and may be treated as nil."