SUBHASH MISHRA
Ranchi, Jan 25: In a significant development, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has made diploma-holding senior residents from Jharkhand’s medical colleges eligible for the post of Assistant Professor.
According to the new draft of Teachers Eligibility Qualifications (TEQ), diploma holders who have been appointed as senior residents before June 8, 2017, and have continued their service in the same institution, will now be eligible for promotion to Assistant Professor. This move is expected to address the ongoing faculty shortage in the state’s medical colleges.
Eligibility Extension for Specialists and Medical Officers
The revised NMC draft also extends eligibility to specialists and medical officers who have worked in government medical colleges for at least six years. These medical professionals are now qualified to take on Assistant Professor roles, potentially alleviating the faculty crisis that has affected several colleges in the state.
Impact on Medical Colleges in Jharkhand
In Jharkhand, approximately four dozen diploma holders have been working as senior residents or tutors in institutions like SNMMCH Dhanbad and MGMMCH Jamshedpur for over a decade.
With all five medical colleges in the state grappling with severe faculty shortages, the appointment of diploma holders as Assistant Professors will go a long way in addressing the gap in medical education and improving the quality of instruction.
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IMA’s Advocacy for Diploma Holders’ Promotion
In December 2024, Dr. AK Singh, President of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Jharkhand Chapter, sent a letter to the NMC Chairman, urging the promotion of diploma-holding doctors who have served as senior residents for over 10 to 15 years.
Dr. Singh highlighted that promoting these experienced medical professionals to Assistant Professors would not only resolve faculty shortages but also bring in much-needed experienced educators to the institutions.
Understanding the Difference Between PG and Diploma Qualifications
The primary difference between a Postgraduate (MD/MS) degree holder and a diploma holder lies in the duration of their studies—three years for MD/MS and two years for a diploma.
Despite the shorter duration, both qualifications meet NMC’s standards for curriculum, training, and infrastructure, making diploma holders eligible for higher roles like Assistant Professor under the new guidelines.
NMC’s Efforts to Address Faculty Shortages
An NMC official explained that the commission has updated the eligibility requirements for medical college faculty to address the growing number of medical colleges and the resultant faculty shortages across the country.
The revised norms aim to streamline the appointment process and ensure that institutions are staffed with qualified and experienced personnel.
