CM Stalin Writes To PM Asking Him To Keep NMC Guidelines In Abeyance; Annamalai Asks If Concern Is Because DMK Ministers Plan To Open Medical Colleges

Chief Minister MK Stalin today (4 October) wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking him to keep in abeyance a recent notification by the National Medical Council (NMC) regarding the number of medical seats per state.

He wrote, "I wish to draw your kind attention to the regressive scenario created by the recent notification issued by the National Medical Commission (NMC) to restrict the opening of new medical colleges. It has been notified by the NMC that after academic year 2023-2024, the Letter of Permission for starting new medical colleges shall be issued only for an annual intake capacity of 50/100/150 seats, provided that the medical college shall follow the ratio of 100 MBBS seats for 10 lakh population in that State / U.T."

Saying that it was penalising states that have better public health infrastructure, he wrote, "This is a direct encroachment on the rights of all State Governments and penalization of States who have invested more in their public health infrastructure over the years.

"Progressive states like Tamil Nadu have been strengthening their tertiary healthcare network for many decades. This has led to ample availability of doctors and nurses, which has manifested in their better performance in terms of various health indicators.

"Chennai has emerged as the healthcare capital of India. In both public and private sectors, our skilled medical professionals have been able to successfully serve not only the people of Tamil Nadu but also of other states as well as other nations. This has generated huge demand for quality health services and new institutions are absolutely necessary for us to cater to it in the future.

"The criterion proposed for such restriction, higher doctor-population ratio at the State level as compared to the norms, is also not appropriate. Even when there is adequate availability of doctors at the state level, there are districts where their availability continues to be a persistent issue. This problem can be effectively addressed only by opening of new medical colleges in such backward areas. Any restriction on new medical colleges based on state level criteria will deprive these deserving districts of much needed tertiary institutions.

"I would also like to point out the fact that in states like Tamil Nadu which have higher doctor-population ratio, such high availability of doctors has been achieved predominantly due to investments made by State Governments and private sector and not by investments made by Union Government.

"We have been continuously urging that the Union Government needs to contribute more but projects like AIIMS, Madurai are yet to take-off. Given this situation, a restriction on new institutions will completely eliminate any chance of Tamil Nadu getting new investments in health sector by the Union Government in future."

He then cited a Supreme Court judgement to say that the notification may be found to be legally untenable and thus the Prime Minister should keep it in abeyance.

"In its recent judgement (Civil Appeal No. 6681 of 2002), the Hon'ble Supreme Court has also held that executive instructions could not impose reasonable restrictions on the fundamental right to establish educational institutions under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution of India. Thus the above NMC notification may also be legally untenable. Considering all the above issues, I request you to instruct the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to keep this notification in abeyance and initiate a consultative process with the State Governments on the steps to address this issue."

Responding to the letter, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president K Annamalai wrote on X (formerly Twitter), saying that it was Prime Minister Modi who gave 11 new medical colleges to the state and the DMK had opened just 5 government medical colleges in spite of being in power six times.

He also wrote that Chief Minister Stalin's only recent contribution was the opening of minister EV Velu's medical college and asked him to work on improving the health infrastructure beyond Chennai.

"We wish TN CM Thiru @mkstalin avl is reminded that it was our Hon PM Thiru @narendramodi avl who gave 11 new medical colleges to Tamil Nadu. Last year, DMK MP Thiru TR Baalu even exclaimed that TN received 11 medical colleges on a “Silver Platter”. DMK, despite being in power for the 6th time, has opened just 5 government medical colleges. This is your legacy, Thiru @mkstalin; please stop shedding crocodile tears.

"Undoubtedly, TN has the best health infra, but DMK has very little to contribute to this success. TN CM Thiru @mkstalin’s only contribution recently was the inauguration of DMK Minister Thiru E V Velu’s private medical college.

"This exaggerated statement from TN CM raises a pertinent doubt as to whether other DMK Ministers have also planned to build new medical colleges. The State govt of Tamil Nadu should stop basking on its past glory and should concentrate on improving health infrastructure beyond Chennai."