NMC anti-ragging Task Force to soon hold meeting with students, parents on mental health issues

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has decided to hold a meeting to hear from students association, students studying in medical colleges across the country and parents of the students on mental health and well-being of medicos.

“Anti-Ragging cell in NMC has constituted a National Task Force on Mental Health and Well-being of Medical Students. Task Force has decided to hold a meeting to hear stakeholders namely Students Association, Students studying in Medical colleges in India or parents of the students,” states the NMC notification from Aujender Singh, deputy Secretary, PGMEB.

Recognising the importance of addressing mental health and well-being issues in medical students, NMC has decided has constituted a National Task Force (NTF) on mental health and well-being of medical students in India. This task force intends to have a discussion with all stakeholders on this issue. All stakeholders (student bodies / associations / individual students both PG and UG / student parents / Faculty members etc.) who intends to give their suggestions are invited to submit their willingness through this form.

The Commission further said that the meeting details will be disseminated through a public notice on the official website, with tentative scheduling starting from May 27, 2024 onwards.

“All the stakeholders are requested to submit their interest by May 25, 2024 through Google Form given below for participating in the meeting which may be held in physical/virtual/hybrid mode: https://forms.gle/PxTXkxF1pZniGogc8,” adds NMC.

Recently, a first-year paediatrics resident from Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical & Health Sciences (SGRRIMHS) in Dehradun, Uttarakhand allegedly died by suicide.

As per medical associations, the student was allegedly overworked, sleep-deprived. His family reportedly claimed that the deceased was always complained about repeated insults from the college faculty.

Taking cognizance of the incident, the Uttarakhand Medical Council summoned the college authorities including the head of paediatrics department and medical superintendent on May 22, 2024.