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Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 1997 
 

MEDICAL COUNCIL OF INDIA
SALIENT FEATURES OF REGULATIONS ON GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION, 1997

PUBLISHED IN PART III, SECTION 4 
OF THE GAZETTE OF INDIA DATED 17TH MAY 1997)

  1. Short title and commencement : (1) These regulations may be called the "Regulations on Graduate Medical Education, 1997"
  2. They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.

CHAPTER 1 

2.  GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS AND TEACHING APPROACH 

(1)      Graduate  medical curriculum is  oriented  towards  training students  to  undertake the responsibilities of  a  physician  of  first  contact  who is capable of looking after  the  preventive, promotive, curative & rehabilitative aspect of medicine. 

(2)       With wide range of career opportunities available  today,  a graduate has a wide choice of career opportunities. The  training, though  broad  based  and  flexible  should  aim  to  provide  an educational experience of the essentials required for health care in our country. 

(3)       To undertake the responsibilities of service situations which is a changing condition and of various types, it is essential to provide adequate placement training tailored to the needs of such services as  to  enable  the  graduates  to   become effective instruments of implementation of those requirements. To avail of opportunities and be able to conduct  professional  requirements, the  graduate  shall endeavour to have acquired basic training  in  different aspects of medical care. 

(4)       The importance of the community aspects of health care and of rural  health care services is to be recognized. This  aspect  of education & training of graduates should be adequately recognized in   the   prescribed  curriculum.  Its importance has been systematically upgraded over the past years and adequate exposure to such experiences should be available throughout all the three phases of education & training. This has to be further emphasized and intensified by providing exposure to field practice areas and training  during the intership period. The aim of the period of rural training during internship is to enable the fresh graduates to function efficiently under such settings. 

(5)       The educational experience should  emphasize  health  and community  orientation  instead  of only   disease  and  hospital orientation or being-concentrated - on-curative -aspects.  As such all the basic concepts of modern scientific medical education are to be adequately dealt with. 

(6)       There must be enough experiences to be provided for self learning. The methods and techniques that would ensure this must become a part of teaching-learning process. 

(7)       The  medical graduate of modern scientific  medicine  shall endeavour to become  capable  of functioning independently in both urban or rural environment. He/she shall endeavour to give emphasis on fundamental aspects of the subjects taught and on common problems of health and disease avoiding unnecessary details of specialization. 

(8)     The importance of social factors in relation to the problem of health and diseases should receive proper emphasis throughout the course and to achieve this purpose, the educational process should  also  be community based than only  hospital  based.  The importance  of  population control and  family  welfare  planning should be emphasized throughout the period of training with the importance of health and development duly emphasized. 

(9)    Adequate emphasis is to be placed on cultivating logical and scientific habits of  thought, clarity of expression and independence of judgment, ability  to  collect  and   analyse information and to correlate them. 

(10)     The  educational  process should be placed  in  a  historic background   as  an  evolving  process and not merely as an acquisition of a large number of disjointed  facts  without a proper perspective. The history of Medicine with reference to the evolution of medical knowledge both in this country and the rest of the world should form a part of this process. 

(11)     Lectures  alone are generally not adequate as a  method  of training   and  are  a  poor  means   of   transferring/acquiring information  and even less effective at skill development and  in generating the appropriate attitudes. Every effort should be made to encourage the use of active methods related to  demonstration and  on  first hand experience. Students will be encouraged to learn in small groups, through peer interactions so as to gain maximal  experience  through  contacts  with  patients  and   the communities  in which they live. While the curriculum objectives often refer to areas of knowledge or science, they are best taught in a setting of clinical relevance and hands on experience for students who assimilate and make this knowledge a part of their own working skills. 

(12)     The graduate medical education in clinical subjects should be based primarily on out-patient teaching, emergency departments and within the  community including  peripheral  health care institutions. The out-patient departments should be suitably planned to provide training to graduates in small groups. 

(13)     Clinics should be organised in small groups of preferably not  more  than 10 students so that a teacher can  give  personal attention  to each student with a view to improve his skill  and competence in handling of the patients. 

(14)     Proper records of the work should be maintained which will form  the basis for the students' internal assessment and should be available to the inspectors at the time of inspection of the college by the Medical Council of India. 

(15)    Maximal  efforts have to be made  to  encourage  integrated teaching between traditional subject areas using a problem based learning approach starting with clinical or community cases  and exploring  the  relevance of various preclinical disciplines in both understanding and resolution of the problem. Every  attempt be made to de-emphasize compartmentalisation of disciplines so as to achieve both horizontal and vertical integration in  different phases. 

(16)     Every attempt is to be made to encourage students to participate in group discussions and seminars to enable them to develop personality, character, expression and other faculties which are necessary for a medical graduate to function either in solo practice or as a team leader when he begins his  independent career. A discussion group should not have more than 20 students. 

(17)     Faculty member should avail of modern educational technology while teaching the students and to attain this objective, Medical Education Units/ Departments  be  established in all medical colleges for faculty development and providing learning resource material to teachers.

(18)     To derive maximum advantage out of this revised curriculum, the vacation period to students in one calendar year should not exceed one month, during the 4 ½ years Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) Course. 

(19)     In order to implement the revised curriculum in toto, State Govts. and Institution Bodies must ensure that adequate financial and technical inputs are provided. 

3. OBJECTIVE OF MEDICAL GRADUATE TRAINING PROGRAMME: 

(1)   NATIONAL GOALS : At  the  end of undergraduate program, the medical  student should be able to : 

(a)   recognize `health for all' as a national goal and health right of all citizens and by undergoing  training for medical profession fulfill his/her social obligations towards realization of this goal. 

(b)   learn  every aspect of National policies on health and devote himself/herself to its practical implementation. 

(c)   achieve competence in practice of holistic medicine, encompassing  promotive, preventive, curative and  rehabilitative aspects of common diseases. 

(d)   develop scientific temper, acquire educational experience for proficiency in profession and promote healthy living.

(e)   become  exemplary  citizen by observation of medical ethics and fulfilling social and professional obligations, so as to respond to national aspirations. 

(2)  INSTITUTIONAL GOALS : (I) In consonance  with  the  national goals each   medical institution should evolve institutional goals to define the  kind of  trained manpower (or professionals) they intend  to  produce. The undergraduate students coming out of a medical institute should: 

(a)    be competent in diagnosis and management of common health problems  of the individual and the community, commensurate with his/her position as a member of the health team at the  primary, secondary or tertiary levels, using his/her clinical skills based on history, physical examination and relevant investigations. 

(b)   be competent to practice preventive, promotive, curative and   rehabilitative medicine in respect to the commonly encountered health problems. 

(c)  appreciate rationale for different therapeutic modalities, be familiar with the administration of the "essential drugs"  and their common side effects. 

(d)       be able to appreciate the socio-psychological, cultural, economic and environmental factors affecting health and develop humane attitude towards the  patients in discharging one's professional responsibilities. 

(e)    possess  the attitude for continued self learning and to seek further expertise or to pursue research in any chosen area of medicine.

(f)       be familiar with the basic factors which are essential  for the  implementation of the National Health Programmes including practical aspects of the following: 

(i)            Family Welfare and Material and Child Health(MCH) 

(ii)           Sanitation and water supply 

(iii)       Prevention and control of communicable  and  non-communicable  diseases 

(iv)       Immunization 

(v)        Health Education 

(g)     acquire basic management skills in  the  area  of  human resources,  materials and resource management related  to  health care delivery. 

(h)      be able to identify community health problems and learn to  work  to resolve these by designing,  instituting  corrective steps and evaluating outcome of such measures. 

(i)     be able to work as a leading partner in health care  teams and acquire proficiency in communication skills. 

(j)     be competent to work in a variety of health care settings. 

(j)      have personal characteristics and attitudes required for professional life   such  as  personal  integrity,  sense of responsibility and dependability and ability to relate to or show concern for other individuals. 

(II)     All efforts must be made to equip the medical graduate to acquire the skills as detailed in APPENDIX B.

CHAPTER II

ADMISSION, SELECTION, MIGRATION AND TRAINING :-

4.Admission to the Medical Course – Eligibility Criteria :
No Candidates shall be allowed to be admitted to the Medical Curriculum of first Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) Course until :
  1. He/She shall complete the age of 17 years on or before 31st December, of the year admission to the MBBS course.
  2. He/She has passed qualifying examination as under :-
  1. The higher secondary examination or the Indian School Certificate Examination which is equivalent to 10+2 Higher Secondary Examination after a period of 12 years study, the last two years of study comprising of physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics or any other elective subjects with English at a level not less than core course of English as prescribed by the National Council of Educational Research and Training after the introduction of the 10+2+3 years educational structure as recommended by the National Committee on education.

    Note: Where the course content is not as prescribed for 10+2 education structure of the National Committee, the candidates will have to undergo a period of one year pre-professional training before admission to the Medical colleges;

    Or
  2. The intermediate examination in science of an Indian University/Board or other recognised examining body with Physics, Chemistry and Biology which shall include a practical test in these subjects and also English as a compulsory subject.

    Or
  3. The pre-professional/pre-medical examination with Physics, Chemistry and Biology, after passing either the higher secondary school examination, or the pre-university or an equivalent Examination. The pre0-professional/pre-medical examination shall include a practical test in Physics, Chemistry and Biology and also English as a compulsory subject.

    Or
  4. The first year of the three years degree course of a recognized university, with Physics, chemistry and Biology including a practical test in three subjects provided the examination is a "University Examination" and candidate has passed 10+2 with English at a level not less than a core course.

    Or
  5. B.Sc. examination of an Indian University, provided that he/she has passed the B.Sc. examination with not less than two of the following subjects Physics, Chemistry, Biology (Botany, Zoology) and further that he/she has passed the earlier qualifying examination with the following subjects – Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English.

    Or
  6. Any other examination which, in scope and standard is found to be equivalent to the intermediate science examination of an Indian University/Board, taking Physics, Chemistry and Biology including practical test in each of these subjects and English.
Note:
  • The pre-medical course may be conducted either at Medical College, or a science College.
  • Marks obtained in Mathematics are not to be considered for admission to MBBS Course.
  • After the 10+2 course is introduced, the integrated courses should be abolished.
Selection of Students:

The selection of students to medical college shall be based solely on merit of the candidate and for determination of the merit, the following criteria be adopted uniformly throughout the country:
  1. In states, having only one Medical College and one university board/examining body conducting the qualifying examination, the marks obtained at such qualifying examination may be taken into consideration;
  2. In states, having more than one university/board/examining body conducting the qualifying examination (or where there is more than one medical college under the administrative control of one authority) a competitive entrance examination should be held so as to achieve a uniform evaluation as there may be variation of standards at qualifying examinations conducted by different agencies;
  3. Where there are more than one college in a state and only one university/board conducting the qualifying examination, then a joint selection board be constituted for all the colleges;
  4. A competitive entrance examination is absolutely necessary in the cases of Institution of All India character.
Procedure for selection to MBBS course shall be as follows:-
  1. In case of admission on the basis of qualifying examination under clause (1) based on merit, candidate for admission to MBBS course must have passed in the subjects of Physics, Chemistry, Biology & English individually and must have obtained a minimum of 50% marks taken together in Physics, Chemistry and Biology at the qualifying examination as mentioned in the clause (2) of regulation 4. In respect of candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes or Other Backward classes. The marks obtained in Physics, Chemistry and Biology taken together in qualifying examination be 40% instead of 50% as above.
  2. In case of admission of the basis of Competitive entrance examination under clause (2) to (4) of this regulation, a candidate must have passed in the subjects of Physics,. Chemistry, Biology and English individually and must have obtained a minimum of 50% of marks taken together in Physics Chemistry and Biology at the qualifying examination as mentioned in clause (2) of regulation 4 and in addition must have come in the merit list prepared as a result of such competitive entrance examination by securing not less then 50% marks in Physics, Chemistry and Biology competitive examination. In respect of candidates belonging to Schedule Caste, Schedule Tribes or other Backward Class the marks obtained in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology taken together in qualifying examination and competitive entrance examination be 40% instead of 50% as stated above.
Provided that a candidate who has appeared in the qualifying examination the result of which has not been declared, he may be provisionally permitted to take up the competitive entrance examination and in case of selection for admission to the MBBS course, he shall not be admitted to that course until he fulfils the eligibility criteria under regulation 4.
Migration:
    1. Migration from one medical college to other is not a right of a student. However, migration of students from one medical college to another medical college in India may be considered by the Medical Council of India only in exceptional cases on extreme compassionate grounds, provided following criteria are fulfilled. Routine migrations on other grounds shall not be allowed.
    2. Both the colleges, i.e. one at which the students is studying at present and one to which migration is sought, are recognised by the Medical Council of India.
    3. The applicant candidate should have passed first professional MBBS examination.
    4. The applicant candidate submits his application for migration, complete in all respects, to all authorities concerned within a period of one month of passing (declaration of result) the first professional Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) examination.
    5. The applicant candidate must submit an affidavit stating that he/she will pursue 18 months of prescribed study before appearing at IInd professional Bachelor of medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) examination at the transferee medical college, which should be duly certified by the Registrar of the concerned University in which he/she is seeking transfer. The transfer will be applicable only after receipt of the affidavit.
Note:1:
  1. Migration during clinical course of study shall not be allowed on any ground.
  2. All applications for migration shall be referred of Medical Council of India by college authorities. No institution/University shall allow migrations directly without the approval of the council.
  3. Council reserves the right, not to entertain any application which is not under the prescribed compassionate gourds and also to take independent decision where applicant has been allowed to migrate without referring the same to the Council.
Note 2: * Compassionate grounds criteria:
  1. Death of a supporting guardian.
  2. Illness of the candidate causing disability.
  3. Disturbed conditions as declared by Government in the Medical College area.
Dear Web Surfer :- Please note

Complete application with all requisite documents to be made as per guidelines provided on the format which has been prepaid in view of regulations and policy decision in the matter
Migration of Mr./Miss ________________________________________ from __________________________________________Medical College, _______________________________to____________________________ Medical College ________________________________
1. Date of admission in 1st MBBS course   
2. Date of Passing 1st MBBS University Exam  
3. Date of application  
4. NOC from relieving college (enclosed) Yes/No
5. NOC from relieving Uni. (enclosed) Yes/No
6. NOC from receiving college (enclosed)  Yes/No
7. NOC from receiving Uni. (enclosed) Yes/No
8. Affidavit, duly Sworn before 1st Class Magistrate containing an undertaking that "I will study for full 18 months of IInd Phase of MBBS course in transfer medical college before appearing In the IInd Prof. University examination" (enclosed) Yes/No
9. Reasons for migration in brief (Please enclose copy as proof)  Yes/No
10. Bank Draft of Rs.500/- (non-refundable migration fee) in in favour of Secretary, Medical Council of India, New Delhi payable at New Delhi  
11. Permanent Address ______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
Training Period and Time Distribution
  1. Every student shall undergo a period of certified study extending over 4 ½ academic years divided into 9 semesters, (i.e. of 6 months each) from the date of commencement of his study for the subjects comprising the medical curriculum to the date of completion of examination and followed by one year compulsory rotating internship. Each semester will consist of approximately 120 teaching days of a hours each college working time, including one hour of lunch.
  2. The period of 4 1//2 years is divided into three phases as follows:-
(a) Phase-1 (two semesters) – consisting of Pre-clinical subjects (Human Anatomy, Physiology including Bio-Physics, Biochemistry and introduction to Community Medicine including Humanities). Besides 60 hours for introduction to Community Medicine including Humanities, rest of the time shall be somewhat equally divided between Anatomy and Physiology plus Biochemistry combined (Physiology 2/3 and Biochemistry 1/3)

(b) Phase-II (3 semester) – consisting of para – clinical/clinical subjects.

During this phase teaching of para-clinical and clinical subjects shall be done concurrently.

The para-clinical subjects shall consist of Pathology, Pharmacology, Microbiology, Forensic Medicine including Toxicology and part of Community Medicine.

The clinical subjects shall consist of all these detailed below in Phase III.

  • Out of the time for Para-clinical teaching approximately equal time be allotted to Pathology, Pharmacology, Microbiology and Forensic Medicine and Community Medicine combined (1/3 Forensic Medicine and 2/3 Community Medicine).
(c) Phase-III (continuation of study of clinical subjects for seven semesters after passing Phase-1)

The clinical subjects to be taught during Phase II and III are Medicine and its allied specialties, Surgery and its allied specialties, Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Community Medicine.

Besides clinical posting as per schedule mentioned herewith, rest of the teaching hours be divided for didactic lectures, demonstrations, seminars, group discussions, etc. in various subjects.

The Medicine and its allied specialties training will include General Medicine, Pediatrics, Tuberculosis and Chest, Skin and Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Psychiatry, Radio-diagnosis, Infectious diseases etc. The Surgery and its allied specialties training will include General Surgery, Orthopedics Surgery including Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology, Anesthesia, Dentistry, Radio-therapy etc. The Obstetrics & Gynecology training will include family medicine, family welfare planning etc.

  1. The first 2 semester (approximately 240 teaching days) shall be occupied in the Phase 1 (pre-clinical) subjects and introduction to a broader understanding of the perspectives of medical education leading to delivery of health care. No student shall be permitted to join the Phase II (Pare-clinical/clinical) group of subjects until he has passed in all the Phase 1 (Pre-clinical) subjects for which he will be permitted not more than four chances (actual examination), provided four chances are completed in three years from the date of enrollment.
  2. After passing pre-clinical subjects, 1 ½ year (3 semesters) shall be devoted to para-clinical subjects.

    Phase II will be devoted to para-clinical and clinical subjects, along with clinical posting. During clinical phase (Phase III) pre-clinical and para clinical teaching will be integrated into the teaching of clinical subjects where relevant.
  3. Didactic lectures should not exceed one third of the time schedule; two third schedule should include practical, clinical or/and group discussions. Learning process should include living experiences, problem oriented approach, case studies and community health care activities.
  4. Universities shall organize admission timings and admission process in such a way that teaching in first semester starts by 1st of August each year.
  5. Supplementary examination may be conducted within 6 months so that the students who pass can join the main batch and the failed students will have to appear in the subsequent year.
Phase Distribution and Timing of Examinations:-
6 MONTHS 6 MONTHS 6 MONTHS  
1 2   1st professional Examination (during Second semester)
3 4 5 IInd Professional examination (during fifth semester)
6 7   IIIrd professional Part I (during 7th semester)
8 9   IIIrd professional Part II (Final professional during 9th semester)

Note :
  1. Passing in 1st Professional is compulsory before proceeding to Phase II training.
  2. A students who fails in the IInd professional examination, shall not be allowed to appear in IIIrd Professional Part I examination unless he passes all subjects of IInd Professional examination.
  3. Passing in IIIrd Professional (Part I) examination is not compulsory before entering for 8th and 9th semester training, however passing of IIIrd Professional (Part I) is compulsory for being eligible for IIIrd Professional (Part II) examination.

    During third to ninth semesters, clinical postings of three hours duration daily as specified in the Table is suggested for various departments, after Introductory Course in Clinical Methods in Medicine and Surgery of two weeks each for the whole class.

     Subjects

    3rd Semester (Wks)

    4th Semester (Wks)

    5th Semester (Wks)

    6th Semester (Wks)

    7th Semester (Wks)

    8th Semester (Wks)

    9th Semester (Wks)

    Total (Wks)

    General*** Medicine

    6

    -

    4

    -

    4

    6

    6

    26

    Paediatrics

    -

    2

    -

    2

    2

    4

    -

    10

    Tuberculosis And Chest Diseases

    -

    2

    -

    -

    -

    -

    -

    02

    Skin & STD

    -

    2

    -

    2

    -

    2

     

    06

    Psychiatry

    -

    -

    2

    -

    -

    -

    -

    02

    Radiology*

    -

    -

    -

    -

    2

    -

    -

    02

    General ****  Surgery

    6

    -

    4

    -

    4

    6

    6

    26

    Orthopaedics**

    -

    -

    4

    4

    -