NMC fines 7 medical colleges Rs 1 crore each for not disclosing intern stipends

New Delhi: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has imposed a fine of Rs 1 crore each on seven medical colleges across the country for non-disclosure of stipends paid to MBBS trainees and postgraduate residents despite repeated directions.The move comes in the wake of non-compliance with an earlier directive requiring all medical institutions to publicly disclose stipend details on their official websites and ensure transparency in payments to interns and residents.The institutions sanctioned include Akash Center for Medical Sciences and Research in Devanahalli, Karnataka; Dumka Medical College, Jharkhand; Government Medical College, Barmer, Rajasthan; Government Medical College Ongole, Andhra Pradesh; RKDF Medical College Hospital and Research Center, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh; Prasad Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh; and Pt. BD Sharma Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana.According to a notification issued by the National Medical Center Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB), some institutions failed to provide the required information despite giving adequate time and reminders. The committee said this inaction breached regulatory obligations under the National Medical Council Act and relevant medical education regulations.The directive was issued following a court order requiring transparency in payment of stipends to interns and residents. The NMC said the continued non-compliance was a serious breach, especially in view of the Supreme Court directive requiring payment of stipends to cadets.The regulator warned that continued breaches could result in further disciplinary action, including restricting enrollment, suspending licenses or other regulatory measures against offending universities.The committee had earlier directed medical colleges to disclose stipend details on their websites to ensure transparency and uniformity in payment to interns and residents. The NMC said that failure to comply with this provision will result in regulatory and criminal action under applicable medical education regulations.