Question : Medical Council of India

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the 1998 guidelines of the Medical Council of India on the Eligibility and Qualifications of Teachers had provision to appoint persons with M.Sc. qualification as non-medical teachers in the five non-clinical departments, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether prior to the 1998 amendment of the MCI’s TEQ guidelines, these non-medical teachers could rise up to the post of Professor without Ph.D.;

(c) if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether MCI has modified its guidelines to the disadvantage of non-medical teachers, if so, the details thereof; and

(e) whether thousands of non-medical teachers who are already working in medical colleges are facing any threat to their jobs, if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)
(a): As per Medical Council of India’s Minimum Qualifications for Teachers in Medical Institutions Regulations, 1998 in the Departments of Anatomy, Physiology, Pharmacology and Microbiology, non-medical teachers may be appointed to the extent of 30% of the total number of the posts in the department. A non-medical approved medical M.Sc. qualification shall be a sufficient qualification for appointment as Assistant Professor in the subject concerned but for promotion to higher teaching post, a candidate must possess Ph.D. degree in the subject. Heads of the Departments of pre and para clinical subjects must possess recognized basic University degree qualification i.e. MBBS or equivalent qualification. However, in the Department of Biochemistry, non-medical teachers may be appointed to the extent of 50% of the total number of posts in the department. In case of the paucity of teachers in non-clinical departments relaxation upto the Head of the Department may be given by the appointing authority to the non-medical persons if suitable medical teacher in the particular non-clinical specialty is not available for the said appointment. However, such relaxation will be made only with the prior approval of the Medical Council of India. A non-medical person cannot be appointed as Director or Principal or Dean or Medical Superintendent.

(b) & (c): Medical Council of India informed that prior to the Minimum Qualifications for Teachers in Medical Institutions Regulations, 1998, it had also prescribed Ph.D. qualification alongwith M.Sc in the subject for further promotion to the post of Associate Professor / Professor.

(d): No.

(e): Does not arise.