In a significant development highlighting regulatory gaps in India's medical education system, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has failed to enforce its own directives regarding stipend payments to medical interns, despite sharp observations from the Supreme Court and repeated reminders from the Union Health Ministry. According to a recent Right to Information (RTI) reply, approximately 65 medical colleges across the country have still not submitted the required details about stipend payments, raising serious concerns about accountability and compliance mechanisms.
Supreme Court's Stern Observations
The issue gained judicial attention when the Supreme Court of India took note of a public notice issued by the NMC on July 11, 2025. This notice directed medical colleges to upload comprehensive details of stipend payments to their interns within seven days. During proceedings on October 28, 2025, the court observed that while the regulatory body had sought this crucial information, it appeared to be "dragging its feet" as no visible action had been taken against institutions failing to comply.
The bench expressed clear disappointment with the NMC's inaction and emphasized the urgency of the matter. They specifically noted that the commission should act on its own warnings at least by the next date of hearing, highlighting the judiciary's growing impatience with regulatory delays affecting medical education standards.
Health Ministry's Repeated Interventions
Following the Supreme Court's pointed observations, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare took proactive steps to address the situation. On November 3, 2025, the ministry formally wrote to the NMC, urging them to examine the matter thoroughly and take appropriate action against non-compliant institutions. When no substantial response was forthcoming, the ministry sent a follow-up reminder on December 16, 2025, demonstrating persistent governmental concern about the issue.
NMC's Regulatory Framework and Actions
In its original July 11 public notice, the NMC had outlined clear consequences for medical colleges failing to comply with stipend disclosure requirements. The commission warned that regulatory action could include:
- Issuance of show-cause notices to defaulting institutions
- Imposition of financial penalties for non-compliance
- Withdrawal of course recognition for persistent violations
- Suspension of new admissions to non-compliant colleges
NMC officials responding to media queries revealed that out of 764 medical colleges nationwide, 595 institutions are eligible to train interns and are consequently required to pay stipends. According to their records, approximately 560 colleges have submitted the necessary stipend details, leaving around 35 institutions in default. Officials emphasized that the commission has undertaken several measures, including:
- Issuing multiple reminders to defaulting colleges
- Filing a detailed affidavit before the Supreme Court on November 11, 2025
- Serving a show-cause notice on November 3, 2025, warning of action under the NMC Act
Commission representatives stated that responses from defaulting colleges are currently under examination, and a final list will be presented to the Undergraduate Medical Education Board for appropriate action as per established regulations.
RTI Revelation and Activist Concerns
The RTI reply dated January 19, however, presents a more concerning picture, indicating that approximately 65 medical colleges have yet to furnish stipend details. This number significantly exceeds the NMC's official estimate of 35 defaulting institutions. The RTI response did not clarify whether this discrepancy reflects an earlier stage of data compilation or includes institutions not eligible to train interns, creating ambiguity about the actual scale of non-compliance.
RTI activist Dr. Babu KV, who obtained the information, expressed serious concerns about the regulatory inaction. He noted that despite the Supreme Court's observations and repeated communications from the health ministry, the RTI response provides no indication that any concrete regulatory action has been initiated against defaulting colleges. This raises fundamental questions about the effectiveness of oversight mechanisms in India's medical education sector.
Broader Implications for Medical Education
This ongoing situation highlights several critical issues in India's medical education framework:
- Regulatory Enforcement Gaps: The apparent inability to enforce compliance even after judicial intervention suggests systemic weaknesses in regulatory mechanisms.
- Intern Welfare Concerns: Medical interns, who form the backbone of healthcare delivery during their training, face uncertainty about their rightful stipends, affecting their financial stability and professional morale.
- Accountability Questions: The discrepancy between NMC's official numbers and RTI findings raises questions about data transparency and reporting accuracy within regulatory bodies.
- Institutional Compliance Culture: The persistent non-compliance by numerous medical colleges indicates a broader issue of institutional disregard for regulatory directives that needs systemic addressing.
The situation continues to evolve as stakeholders await concrete action from the National Medical Commission. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether regulatory bodies can effectively enforce compliance or if further judicial intervention will be necessary to protect the interests of medical interns and maintain standards in medical education across India.
