Vikrant Negi

Contributor for health in hills

[NMMTA @NMMTA_Assn]

NMMTA strongly condemns the denial of Professor status to Dr. Sunil S. Shivekar, a Medical M.Sc-Ph.D. faculty member possessing the requisite experience, solely because his "Ph.D. was not obtained through a regular in-campus programme from a recognized medical institution".

This decision is arbitrary and legally unsustainable. To our knowledge, Dr. Shivekar earned his Ph.D. in 2015- years before the formation of NMC and the promulgation of its current regulations. Applying a subsequently introduced criterion retrospectively is both unjust and contrary to established principles of natural justice.

NMMTA had objected to these provisions when public feedback was sought to the draft regulations, and has repeatedly conveyed its concerns to the NMC and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (@MoHFW_INDIA). Having failed to secure a fair resolution, the Association has now approached the Hon'ble High Court seeking justice.

We urge the @NMC_IND @NMC_BHARAT to immediately withdraw its letter and accord due recognition to Dr. Shivekar as Professor. Merit, experience, and demonstrated competence-not retrospective technicalities- must guide academic recognition.

Also, the Association respectfully requests the Hon'ble Minister, Shri @JPNadda ji, to take necessary steps to curb the dangerous precedent of enforcing rules retrospectively. The unnecessary harassment meted out to the Medical M.Sc-PhD faculties are avoidable.

#NMMTA #MedicalEducation #HigherEducation #AcademicJustice #MedicalScientists #NMC

[NMMTA @NMMTA_Assn]

Heartiest congratulations to @sanu1078 (Dr. Sukhes Mukherjee) from AIIMS Bhopal on being recognized among the World's Top 5% Scientists in the 2025 SciRank Global Registry! 🌟

NMMTA is incredibly proud of your remarkable achievement and dedication to scientific excellence. 🧪👏

#MedicalScience #AcademicExcellence #TopScientist #AIIMSBhopal #NMMTA

[Arjun Maitra, PhD @gandiv_arjun]

This is for the information of those obnoxious individuals who constantly spread misinformation and misinterpretations, seeking to validate themselves by falsifying the truth and spreading propaganda against @NMMTA_Assn . Members must recall #WallofShame. They owe us an apology!

[Arjun Maitra, PhD @gandiv_arjun]

"Journal of Foundational Medical Research" , the official journal of @NMMTA_Assn in collaboration with Scientific Scholar,USA is inaugurated today.
Another small step towards excellence.
#media, #medicalresearch #academicexcellence #KnowledgeIsPower

[Arjun Maitra, PhD @gandiv_arjun]

Following the representation from the Medical MSc/PhD faculties of Rajasthan & @NMMTA_Assn , RUHS has allowed Med.MSc/PhD teachers joined services before 01.08.23 for examinership in the coming University examinations.
@NMC_BHARAT you are requested to amend the CBME guidelines

[NMMTA @NMMTA_Assn]

Faculty with medical MSc. or Ph.D. qualifications in non-clinical subjects such as Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, and Microbiology have been integral to India’s medical education system since the 1960s.

This is neither a new development nor unique to India. In fact, many countries, including the United States, follow a similar model—where the majority of educators in non-clinical disciplines come from a science background, often holding Ph.D. degrees. Why should India be any different?

We appeal to the broader medical community to stop viewing or treating us as adversaries or inferiors. Let both categories of teachers complement one another and work collaboratively for the betterment of medical education in the country.

https://t.co/1JfpqHxSVE via @medicaldialogs

[NMMTA @NMMTA_Assn]

NMMTA has never paused, never stopped.

We remain hopeful that the need to struggle for opportunity with dignity will soon be behind us. While some challenges persist, we trust they will be resolved in due course.

We are not here to take anyone’s job. We have been an integral part of medical education for decades-supportive, committed, and collaborative. It’s time to stop undermining our contributions.

Since its inception in 2013, the association has been actively working for its members. NMMTA will continue to grow, advocate for the rights and recognition of teachers with medical MSc./Ph.D. qualifications, and uphold the values of sincerity and excellence in medical education.

[Vikrant Negi @vikrantnegi]

Meeting of Stakeholders of One Health and Poster & Slogan competition organized on the occasion of WORLD ZOONOSES DAY by Sentinel Surveillance Site, NOHPPCZ, Government Medical College, Almora
#OneHealth #zoonoses #almora #ncdc #mohfw #gmcalmora #ssjgimsr #Posters #Slogan #Health

[NMMTA @NMMTA_Assn]

This discussion addresses common misconceptions surrounding MSc qualifications for teaching in medical colleges.

It asserts that MSc courses were specifically designed to create medical teachers, and graduates are equipped with similar knowledge and skills as MD graduates, though lacking clinical practice.

NMMTA argues that MSc courses are structured, regulated, and equivalent to MD courses in quality and duration, emphasizing that non-medical teachers are capable and necessary to address faculty shortages.

Furthermore, NMMTA contends that criticisms against non-medical teachers are often unfounded and serve to belittle their contributions, highlighting systemic issues and biases within medical education in India compared to Western practices.

NMMTA points out that the NMC, dominated by doctors, has historically created policies that disadvantage non-medical educators, fostering an environment of discrimination.

https://t.co/3AL4WTqu7K

@PMOIndia @MoHFW_INDIA @JPNadda @proframgopalya1 @Jairam_Ramesh

[Arjun Maitra, PhD @gandiv_arjun]

@RenukaCCongress you wanted to know the rationale! in a simple word remove science from Medical Science and see what is left . A glorified adjective only. 1969 under congress rule only these qualified individuals were brought to the system. You should have studied the matter.

[Arjun Maitra, PhD @gandiv_arjun]

@RenukaCCongress due to change in policy hundreds of Medical MSc/PhD qualified are stuck without progression many have lost jobs in mid career. The country has used these brains like a tissue paper during the need for more than a half century & u are asking the rationale..

[Arjun Maitra, PhD @gandiv_arjun]

@RenukaCCongress ,@RahulGandhi , @AnupriyaSPatel ,@JPNadda
All should be aware of the fact that globally MSc/PhD teachers teach basic sciences in medical colleges. mumbo jumbo of CBME curriculum isnt sufficient arguments for non inclusion of Medical MSc/PhD teachers.

[Arjun Maitra, PhD @gandiv_arjun]

@RenukaCCongress & @RahulGandhi both are requested to meet us to know about the other half story . It's more than 5000 people with masters and PhD whose professional life is at stake.
Interestingly created by Congress govt. to support medical education, when there was none.

[Arjun Maitra, PhD @gandiv_arjun]

@RenukaCCongress @RahulGandhi @JPNadda ji & @AnupriyaSPatel
5 years since we have been suffering. You gave us hearing. You cant control NMC despite having an act of power. U r waiting for the court's reply to take action. But if you could act ur power in the first place, there was no need of going to court.

[Arjun Maitra, PhD @gandiv_arjun]

@RenukaCCongress & @AnupriyaSPatel
Medical MSc /PhD qualified teachers are part of Medical education for more than 50 years. TEQ1998, made it legitimate in the MCI regime. NMC TEQ 2022 reduced the optional percentage & zeroed to Micro & Pharma depts.

[NMMTA @NMMTA_Assn]

The National MSc Medical Teachers' Association (NMMTA) has emerged as a pivotal force in shaping Indian medical education, particularly by advocating for the inclusion and recognition of non-MBBS educators with Medical MSc and PhD degrees.

Founded in 2013 as a registered, non-profit body based in Delhi, NMMTA represents educators and clinical scientists in non-clinical disciplines— Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, and Microbiology—across 26 states. Its role is multifaceted, blending advocacy, academic enhancement, and policy influence to address systemic gaps and elevate the quality of medical education.

At its core, NMMTA champions the cause of non-MBBS educators, who have historically taught foundational sciences in medical colleges due to a shortage of MD-qualified faculty. This shortage persists, with 40–50% of non-clinical MD seats vacant annually, as MBBS graduates favor clinical specialties. NMMTA argues that its members, trained through rigorous Medical MSc programs (often mirroring MD curricula) and PhDs, are vital to filling this gap.

The association has fiercely opposed National Medical Commission (NMC) regulations—like the 2020 reduction in permissibility percentage of non-MBBS faculty (e.g., from 50% in Biochemistry and 30% to 15% in Anatomy and Physiology, and to 0% in Pharmacology and Microbiology) and the 2023 CBME guidelines barring them as MBBS examiners—claiming these moves threaten jobs and undervalue their expertise.

Through protests (e.g., Jantar Mantar 2017, 2018, 2023), legal battles (e.g., Delhi High Court & Supreme Court writs), and dialogues with the Health Ministry (e.g., regular meetings with Health Ministry), NMMTA has pushed for coexistence with medical faculty, not replacement, aligning with global norms where PhD holders thrive in preclinical education.

Beyond advocacy, NMMTA fosters academic excellence. It regularly hosts annual conferences for teachers and Clinical Scientists on various contemporary topics. Its newsletter and initiatives highlight members’ contributions, reinforcing their role in medical teaching, research, and diagnostics. NMMTA is committed to advancing Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME), which demands small-group teaching and clinical integration—areas where faculty shortages hinder progress.

By maintaining a national database of qualified educators, NMMTA ensures visibility and support for its roughly 3,000 members. NMMTA’s influence on policy is evident in its persistent engagement with authorities.

It has sought representation in the National Medical Council, reinstation of https://t.co/Uvfzb3I6se courses in the Schedule I and reversal of NMC’s restrictive and discriminative norms, arguing that such changes would stabilize staffing in India’s 850+ medical colleges, especially in rural areas.

While its efforts have met resistance—prompting accusations of “academic apartheid” against regulators—the association’s sustained pressure has kept the debate alive, occasionally swaying interim policy rollbacks (e.g., pre-2020 recruitment norms upheld pending court verdicts).

In essence, NMMTA weaves a critical thread into Indian medical education’s fabric by defending a marginalized yet essential workforce, bridging faculty shortages, and pushing for a collaborative, globally aligned system. Its work challenges the NMC’s clinician-centric tilt, advocating for a broader, more inclusive approach to training India’s future doctors.

#NMMTA #medicaleducation #academicapartheid #enddiscrimination

@PMOIndia @MoHFW_INDIA @proframgopalya1 @NITIAayog

[Vikrant Negi @vikrantnegi]

RT @NMMTA_Assn: Despite our efforts to highlight the true value of the medical https://t.co/SsTS47gasW course & the crucial role of https:/…

[NMMTA @NMMTA_Assn]

NMMTA's Press Release
#press #pressrelease #nmmta #medicaleducation

[NMMTA @NMMTA_Assn]

Unmasking the Truth: The PR Spin Against https://t.co/9wPITOM9p2 Teachers in Medical Education

One of the oldest PR tactics is to distort facts, present a one-sided narrative, or suppress the truth. Unfortunately, this is exactly what’s happening today. Many journalists fail to fact-check before publishing, blindly pushing the story handed to them.

🚨 Here are the facts everyone must know, especially those unaware:

📌 Two Categories of Teachers in Non-Clinical Medical Education:
There are MBBS/MD and https://t.co/9wPITOM9p2 teachers. Both teach Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology, Pharmacology, and Microbiology.

📌 https://t.co/Uvfzb3IEhM & MD Courses are Nearly Identical:
Both are taught in the same medical colleges, using the same syllabus, curriculum, resources, and faculty.

📌 Decades-Old, Globally Accepted Practice:
M.Sc-qualified teachers have been part of medical education since the 1970s, not just in India but worldwide-up to 90% of non-clinical faculty in US medical colleges hold https://t.co/9wPITOM9p2 qualifications.

📌 MBBS Graduates Prefer Clinical Specialties:
Most MBBS graduates opt for clinical PG seats, leaving 50-90% of non-clinical PG seats vacant every year-even after reducing cutoffs to zero percentile, waiving tuition fees, and offering hefty stipends.

📌 https://t.co/9wPITOM9p2 Teachers Fill the Shortage Gap:
With persistent shortages of MD-qualified teachers in non-clinical subjects, https://t.co/9wPITOM9p2 teachers have always stepped in to ensure medical education continues.

📌 The Real Reason for the Attacks? Competition & Superiority Complex:
Some in the non-clinical doctor community fear competition and have lobbied aggressively to discredit https://t.co/9wPITOM9p2 teachers—despite both being qualified for teaching roles.

📌 The Ultimate PR Hitjob:
The best way to eliminate a competitor is to discredit them—spread lies, call them unqualified, and push a fake narrative. But these tactics won’t fool the Union Government, which understands the reality.

💡 Our hope lies with the government @MoHFW_INDIA, which must ensure minority stakeholders are protected from systemic exclusion. @JPNadda

#MedicalEducation #MScPhDTeachers #TruthMatters #StopDiscrimination #NMCReforms #NMMTA

[NMMTA @NMMTA_Assn]

A new TEQ draft has been released by the NMC's PG board, rather than the usual UG board. We are not surprised. While the MCI's BOG was kind, considerate, and rational, the NMC has been outright hostile and unsympathetic. What else can be expected from it?

It is said that a nation is judged by how it treats its minorities. The same applies to the @NMC_BHARAT. Just observe the disdain and apathy with which it treats us, the minority stakeholders.

Despite being an integral part of medical education for several decades since the 1970s, we are still considered outsiders, with separate rules imposed upon us—each iteration worsening the situation.

Yes, there are many objections. When we request changes from the NMC, we are told the matter is sub judice. However, the NMC exercises the freedom to modify regulations as it pleases, without regard for whether the issue is sub judice.

It is true that the NMC is an autonomous body, but the NMC Act clearly states that the @MoHFW_INDIA remains its governing authority. Despite this, the NMC has the audacity to overrule explicit orders from the ministry and continues to adopt a hostile stance that contradicts the government's position.

While the NMC operates more like a doctors' welfare association, the union government has a responsibility to protect the interests of all stakeholders. Given our lack of faith in the NMC, we implore the ministry to address our concerns directly.

The feedback on the TEQ 2024 draft is being submitted. The NMC has always ignored our feedback—will this time be any different?