Rajasthan Govt forms panel to review NMC faculty rules, Medical teachers demand dissolution

Jaipur: The State Government of Rajasthan has recently set up a committee to study the provisions of the new teachers' eligibility qualification (TEQ) issued by the National Medical Commission in June this year. Further, this government panel will also prepare a factual report regarding the adjustment of doctors from the health department working in medical colleges in the medical education department. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that, laying down the eligibility qualifications of medical teachers at medical institutes, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has released the final Medical Institutions (Qualifications of Faculty) Regulations, 2025 in the official Gazette on June 30, 2025. Reportedly, the Committee has been asked to mandatorily submit its report to the medical education department within 15 days. Meanwhile, strongly opposing the State's decision to set up the committee, the Rajasthan Medical College Teachers Association (RMCTA) has opined that this step is against the interests of both medical education and doctor teachers. Demanding dissolution of the panel, the association has warned to launch statewide agitation if its demands are not met. Commenting on the matter, an RMCTA official mentioned, 'RMCTA is of the clear opinion that this step is against the interests of both medical education and doctor teachers. Therefore, the organisation demands from the government that this committee should be dissolved with immediate effect, otherwise RMCTA will be forced to launch a statewide agitation. Earlier also, an attempt was made to accommodate doctors of other cadres in colleges, which was strongly opposed and as a result, the state government took back its steps." The official said that the quality of medical education will be adversely affected if the doctors lack teaching experience, academic ability, and research. On the other hand, the All Rajasthan In-Service Doctors Association (ARISDA) has welcomed the Govt order dated August 22, 2025, stating that it will give them the opportunity to enter medical education. Responding to the stand of RMCTA, the President of ARISDA, Ajay Chaudhary, claimed that RMCTA is opposing the strengthening of medical education and services in the state due to personal interests. Back in 2017 as well, the medical faculties across Rajasthan had opposed the Government's order making medical officers equivalent to medical teachers. At that time, the State Government had issued the order to find a way to address the shortage of medical faculties in the state government medical colleges. Based on this order, the medical officers were made equivalent to medical faculty. In particular, the order was seen re designating junior specialists as assistant professors, senior specialists as associate professors and principal specialists as professors.