Recently National Medical Commission has released Regulations namely “Post-Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2023” or “PGMER-23” in its abbreviated form.

These regulations will replace The “Post-graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000” and “The Opening of a New or Higher Course of Study or Training (including Post-graduate Course of Study or Training) and Increase of Admission Capacity in any course of Study or Training (including a Post-Graduate course of Study or Training)
Regulations, 2000”

Some of the key points of PGMER 2023 are-

Eligibility Criteria –Eligibility to pursue a post-graduate broad-speciality course in Medicine shall be as per “NMC, National Exit Test Regulations, 2023”. Provided that until the first batch based on National Exit Test (NExT) becomes eligible for admission in broad-speciality courses, the existing system of admission through National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Post- graduate (NEET-PG) as per Post-Graduate Medical Education Regulation, 2000 (PGMER-2000) shall continue.

Conduct of NEET-SS – Either the National Medical Commission may conduct the NEET-SS for all or any few super-speciality courses or may designate any such agency or authority to cause the NEET-SS to be conducted.

Common Counselling – There shall be common counselling for admission to post-graduate courses in medicine for all medicalinstitutions in India solely based on the merit list of respective exams.Provided the common counselling may have multiple rounds as may be necessary.All rounds of counselling for all seats will be held on online mode by state or central counselling authority and nomedical college/ institution will admit any candidate themselves.

Mandatory courses for all Post graduates-

All post-graduate students shall complete Course in Research Methodology, Course in Ethics, Course in Cardiac Life Support Skills,besides this Institutions may arrange training in any other courses like awareness in medical audit,medical law, exposure to human behaviour studies, finance, accounts, etc, which are beneficial to the post-graduate students.

DISTRICT RESIDENCY PROGRAMME (DRP)

Doctors have to be trained in diverse settings including those which are close to the community. Hence, they should be trained in the District Health System / the District Hospitals.To expose the post-graduate student to the District Health System/ District Hospital and involve them in health care services being provided by District Health System /District Hospital for learning while serving,District Residency Programme was introduced in the year2021. The training imparted as part of the District Residency Programme, shall be considered as training imparted in a medical institution.

Stipend to Post-graduate Students:

 The post-graduate students undergoing post-graduate Degree/Diploma/Super-speciality courses in all the institutions shall be paid a stipend at par with the stipend being paid to the post-graduate students of State Government medical institutions/Central Government medicalinstitutions, in the State/Union Territory where the institution is located.

Leave Rules for Post-graduate Students –

The following leave rules will be followed:

a. Every post-graduate student will be given minimum 20 days of paid leave (casual leave) per year.

b. Subject to exigencies of work, post-graduate students will be allowed one weekly holiday.

c. Female post-graduate students shall be allowed maternity leave as per existing Government rules and regulations.

d. Male post-graduate students shall be allowed paternity leave as per existing Government rules and regulations.

e. In addition to 20 days’ paid leave, the candidates will be allowed academic paid leave of 5 days per year.

If candidate avails leave in excess of the permitted number of days, his/her term of course shall be extended by the same number of days to complete the training period. However, one shall be able to appear in the examination if one has 80% (eighty per cent) of the attendance.

Accommodation for Post-graduate Students:

 It will be mandatory for the college to provide appropriate residential accommodation to post-graduate students. However, it will not be mandatory for the post-graduate students to stay in the hostel.