Summary
NMC emphasises taking care of student’s mental health by providing adequate rest, weekly offs, counselling, sanctioned leaves and a healthy working environment
The commission has also requested that these universities produce action-taken reports on the problem and steps taken, with special attention to suicide cases, gender bias, and incidents of disrespect for a woman's decency
The National Medical Commission (NMC) on Wednesday urged medical colleges offering post-graduate courses to take care of their student's mental health and well-being by ensuring they get adequate rest, weekly offs, counselling, sanctioned leaves and a conducive working environment.
The commission has also asked these colleges to submit action-taken reports on the issue as well as the practices they follow, with special mention of cases of suicide, gender bias and incidences of dishonour to a woman's decency.
Dr Vijay Oza, president of the Post-Graduate Medical Education Board, NMC, mentioned in a letter to the directors, principals, or deans of the medical colleges and institutions offering post-graduate courses that the organisation had received complaints from PG students (resident doctors) stating they are under stress due to long working hours, no weekly off, the non-sanctioning of leaves during emergencies, etc.
According to the letter, this matter has been brought up both in the print media and in Parliament.
The PGMEB, in a meeting on June 28, discussed the grievances and decided that all medical colleges should take care of the mental health and well-being of the PG students by ensuring they get adequate rest, weekly offs, and counselling if necessary. The institutions should arrange yoga sessions on a regular basis, sanction leaves when required and respect the dignity of the students by providing a positive and conducive working environment, the board decided.
A committee may be constituted to look into the complaints and grievances received, including those from anonymous sources, Oza said.
"A healthy and stress-free resident doctor is critical not only for his or her own well-being but also for the well-being of the patients he or she treats. All medical colleges and institutes are therefore requested to take necessary steps to care for the mental health and well-being of the PG medical students studying or working with them.
"An action-taken report on the issue as well as the practice being followed in the college or institute may be provided to the National Medical Commission on a regular basis specially mentioning the cases of suicide, gender bias and incidences of dishonour to a woman's decency etc," the letter read.
Last updated on 11 Aug 2022
