Leading the opposition, the United Doctors Front (UDF) has demanded an immediate rollback of the decision, warning that it could wreck the foundation of medical education and compromise patient care in the country.
“This move undermines the core of medical education, directly impacting the quality of healthcare delivery,” stated Dr. Lakshay Mittal, National President of UDF.
The UDF acknowledged the shortage of qualified MD faculty but emphasized that allowing non-medical practitioners into teaching roles should be strictly a stopgap measure.
“Any such transition must be temporary and clearly defined. Non-medical practitioners should neither be hired as permanent faculty nor on contract,” Dr. Mittal asserted.
The organization also raised alarms about private medical colleges potentially exploiting the decision as a loophole to cut corners on qualified faculty. “This could lead to a significant degradation in the quality of education and training for future doctors,” warned UDF.
The group urged the government to focus on strengthening existing medical colleges before expanding or creating new institutions.
“The priority should be enhancing infrastructure and resources, not compromising on the standards of education by appointing unqualified personnel,” Dr. Mittal said.
Allowing non-medical professionals to teach core subjects, the UDF argued, risks producing poorly trained medical graduates, which would jeopardize patient safety and the credibility of India’s healthcare system.
“This decision is a step backward for medical education in India. The NMC must reconsider this ill-advised move in the interest of preserving the integrity of healthcare and patient care standards,” the UDF said, vowing to continue its fight for the highest standards of medical training.
The ball is now in the NMC’s court as medical professionals nationwide rally to prevent what they see as a potential disaster for future doctors and the patients they will serve.
