The National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued a clarification aimed at protecting postgraduate medical students from undue pressure regarding dissertation or thesis approval. In its recent statement, the NMC emphasized that students cannot be prevented from taking their final exams if they have not secured approval for their dissertation or thesis from the Head of the Department (HoD). This clarification follows the implementation of the Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2023 (PGMER-23), which were published on January 1, 2024.
Previously, thesis submission was mandatory before final exams at most medical institutions, and the approval of supervisors or the HoD was required. However, this process was reportedly used by some institutions to exploit students, with allegations of harassment and demands for “donations” to approve theses. In some cases, this toxic environment led students to resign or even take their own lives. Dr. B. Srinivas, secretary of the NMC, stated that by involving external examiners, the new regulations aim to minimize bias and prevent the use of thesis approval as a tool for blackmail.
New Dissertation Guidelines and Evaluation
Under the new regulations, the dissertation now accounts for 5% of the total marks in the clinical/practical and viva voce components, with 20 marks reserved for the dissertation. Additionally, an external examiner from outside the student’s state will evaluate the dissertation, conduct the viva voce, and assign marks based on both the quality of the research and the student’s performance in the viva. This change is intended to reduce the burden on students, who often juggle hospital duties alongside their academic responsibilities.
Despite these reforms, some experts have raised concerns about the potential decline in the quality of dissertations. Dr. Sanjay Teotia, senior consultant at Balrampur Hospital, Lucknow, emphasized that thesis submission has traditionally been an integral part of strengthening India’s research ecosystem. He warned that students might not put enough effort into their research if they know it will only account for 5% of their final marks.
Concerns About Motivation and Research Quality
With the reduced weight of the dissertation, some fear that students may deprioritize their research. Dr. Somashekhar SP, chairman of the medical advisory board at Aster DM Healthcare, acknowledged that students might be less motivated to invest in high-quality research, but added that the external viva voce requirement may still encourage them to meet certain standards.
In addition, experts argue that it is essential to ensure students’ research efforts lead to publication in reputed journals. Dr. Aswathy S, HoD at Amrita School of Medicine, Kochi, suggested that involving more than two external examiners in the evaluation process could further reduce bias and maintain the importance of the dissertation as part of the MD exam.
Striking a Balance
Medical professionals believe that a balance must be maintained between practical skills and research. Dr. B. Unnikrishnan, dean of Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, stated that while clinical skills and knowledge are crucial, research remains a vital component of medical education. The NMC’s reforms aim to create a fairer and less stressful process for students, but experts agree that ongoing evaluation of the impact on research quality will be necessary.
