The National Medical Commission has published an advisory notice indicating that COVID-19 duty performed by MBBS students in certain departments will now be counted as compulsory rotating internship. The decision has been taken in a bid to augment the medical manpower required to fight the ongoing pandemic situation in the country. As per the notice, duties performed by interns related to COVID-19 management in the departments of General Medicine, Casualty/Emergency Medicine/Critical Care and Community Medicine/Public Health will be considered under compulsory rotating internship.
The notice reads, “…the duties performed by interns during their posting in the following places/departments for COVID-19 management will be treated as the duty in those department for purpose of compulsory rotating internship”. In this context, it may be noted that compulsory rotating internship under the supervision of senior doctors is a part of mandatory rotational training of MBBS students. As per reports, during the 12 months training, such candidates are expected to learn the practice of medicine and surgery so that they can become capable medical practitioners.
The NMC has defined the specific places/departments where COVID-19 management duty of MBBS interns will be considered under compulsory rotating internship. Alongside, the NMC has also specified the duration of the COVID-19 management duty in each department that the intern must perform.
The departments include General Medicine (including psychiatry) where candidates have to perform their duty for a period of 2 months. Similarly in Casualty/Emergency Medicine/Critical Care department, a candidate have to perform COVID-19 management duty for 15 days and it will be considered under compulsory rotating internship. In addition, 02 months duty in Community Medicine/Public Health will also be considered under compulsory rotating internship.
The decision of the NMC has been taken in order to support the community of medical practitioners (doctors) in the Indian healthcare sector by increasing the number of active medical practitioners. The notice reads considering the unprecedented situation due to COVID-19 pandemic where augmentation of medical manpower is immediately required … the duties performed by interns… will be treated… for the purpose of compulsory rotating internship.
Concerned students of MBBS program may note that the duration of duty, i.e. 2 months in General Medicine, 2 months in Community Medicine/Public Health and 15 days in Casualty/Emergency Medicine/Critical care will considered in total as part of the compulsory rotating internship they have to undergo. Students are advised to visit the official website of the NMC i.e. nmc.org.in to stay updated with the latest developments and decision of the apex medical commission in the country.
