DMER Ignored NMC? RTI Bombshell Rocks Maharashtra
• PG Doctors Left Stranded—No Beds, No Buses
• Sprouts News Exposes Residency Welfare Crisis
Unmesh Gujarathi
Sprouts News Exclusive
Contact: +91 9322755098
Sprouts News Exclusive
Contact: +91 9322755098
Contents
DMER Ignored NMC? RTI Bombshell Rocks Maharashtra• PG Doctors Left Stranded—No Beds, No Buses• Sprouts News Exposes Residency Welfare CrisisRegulatory Oversight Ignored: NMC Letter and RTI No. NMCND/R/T/25/00151Transparency Deficit: Budget Queries Evade Answer – RTI No. PUBHD/R/2025/80166Ground-Level Crisis: Unsafe Conditions and Systemic NeglectAlso Read: SC Slams MMRDA Over L&T Exit in ₹14K Cr Projects.Welfare Neglect Hampers Patient Care and Doctor MoraleCall to Action: Addressing Systemic Gaps in Maharashtra’s District Residency Program
PG resident doctors across Maharashtra are suffering due to DMER and DRP nodal officers ignoring NMC directives on accommodation and transport. RTI documents reveal non-compliance and lack of transparency in fund usage. Sprouts News demands urgent reforms to safeguard doctors’ welfare and uphold public healthcare standards in government hospitals.
In a disturbing development, postgraduate (PG) medical resident doctors working in government-run health facilities across Maharashtra are grappling with severe difficulties due to the apathy of the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) and the State District’ Residency Program (DRP) nodal officers. Despite multiple formal representations, these authorities have failed to ensure basic welfare provisions—particularly accommodation and transportation.
This chronic neglect has left hundreds of doctors vulnerable, compromising not only their well-being but also the quality of public healthcare. Sprouts News has accessed official records through the Right to Information (RTI) Act that confirm the DMER’s continued inaction despite national-level directives.
Regulatory Oversight Ignored: NMC Letter and RTI No. NMCND/R/T/25/00151
On 18 February 2025, the National Medical Commission (NMC) issued a formal communication (Letter No. NMC/PG/2025/18.02.2025) to DMER, Mumbai. This letter followed complaints regarding the lack of official accommodation, safe travel, and security infrastructure for PG resident doctors.
However, as revealed in RTI application NMCND/R/T/25/00151 (filed on 25 April 2025), DMER failed to acknowledge or respond to this directive even by 26 May 2025. The NMC has since issued a reminder, but the regulatory vacuum remains intact. This silence from a key state institution challenges the authority of the NMC and underscores a deeper issue of administrative disregard for medical governance.
Sprouts News verified this RTI trail, which shows an unacceptable pattern of non-compliance. Such disregard is viewed as a violation of national standards set for postgraduate medical education and a breach of duty towards healthcare professionals.
Transparency Deficit: Budget Queries Evade Answer – RTI No. PUBHD/R/2025/80166
The issue of transparency surrounding the District’ Residency Program (DRP) has further deepened. In another RTI application, PUBHD/R/2025/80166 (filed on 17 April 2025), questions were raised regarding budget allocation and expenditure, particularly for institutions like Aundh District Hospital, from 2019 onwards.
Instead of a direct response, the application was shuffled among departments. As of 30 April 2025, no reply document was attached. This bureaucratic stalling has left resident doctors uninformed about how funds intended for their welfare are being used—or whether they are being used at all. Sprouts News notes that this lack of transparency erodes public trust in the healthcare system and raises red flags about financial accountability within DRP administration.
Ground-Level Crisis: Unsafe Conditions and Systemic Neglect
Doctors on the ground continue to voice their struggles. Sprouts News spoke to multiple residents across districts, and recurring themes include:
•No Accommodation: Most PG doctors are forced to seek private housing far from hospitals, resulting in steep expenses and logistical challenges. Some who are allotted government accommodation report unsafe, unhygienic, and often inhabitable living conditions.
•Lack of Transportation: Government-facilitated transit is completely absent. Doctors rely on unpredictable and expensive private transport, which is especially problematic for night shifts and remote postings.
•Safety Concerns: The absence of secure facilities increases risk, particularly for female doctors during late-night or emergency calls.
•Ignored Formal Appeals: Even high-level appeals are brushed aside. For instance, a formal request submitted by Dr. Divyansh Dwivedi to both the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and the NMC Postgraduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) remains unanswered, with no action from DMER or DRP officials.
Also Read: SC Slams MMRDA Over L&T Exit in ₹14K Cr Projects.
Welfare Neglect Hampers Patient Care and Doctor Morale
The cascading effect of administrative inaction is evident. Fatigue, stress, and burnout among PG doctors are not just personal issues—they directly impair healthcare delivery in government hospitals. Lack of housing and reliable transport reduces efficiency and responsiveness, especially in emergencies.
Low morale among resident doctors undermines their motivation to serve in rural and underserved areas, where they are needed the most. Medical education experts warn that such systemic neglect could lead to a future talent drain from government service.
Call to Action: Addressing Systemic Gaps in Maharashtra’s District Residency Program
Stakeholders across healthcare and civil society are calling for urgent reform and accountability. The following measures are immediately required:
•Full compliance with NMC mandates, including an official response to Letter No. NMC/PG/2025/18.02.2025
•Guaranteed accommodation and transport for all PG residents, with real-time grievance redressal mechanisms
•Public disclosure of fund utilization under the DRP, especially relating to infrastructure, via periodic audits
It is critical that the Medical Education Department and Public Health Department , along with the Health Ministry and Maharashtra Police, take cognizance of these violations. Sprouts News will continue to monitor and report on developments that impact the integrity of India’s public medical education and healthcare delivery systems.
