The National Medical Commission (NMC) released a circular on Wednesday, December 7th outlining the updated schedule and curriculum for the 2022-23 batch of students enrolled in MBBS. The updated calendar states that the entire course will take a total of 6,864 hours. The circular adds that clinical placements will last for 132 weeks. While phases 1 and 2 of the course each last 13 months, phase 3 lasts 10.5 months. Phase 4 will be the longest at 17.5 months.
The notice states that Phase 1 for the 2022-2023 batch began on November 15 and will end on December 15, 2023. Phase 2 will take place between December 16 next year and January 15, 2025. Phase 3 will begin one day after Phase 2 closes and ends on November 30, 2025. The final phase will take place from December 1, 2025 to May 15, 2027.
The NMC has made a number of important deviations from the Medical Education Regulations (GMER) 2019. The theory lessons in Dermatology, Radiology, Psychiatry, Anesthesiology and Respiratory Medicine have been moved from phase 2 to the final phase. The theory lessons ENT and Ophthalmology have also been moved to phase 4 with shortened sessions. Clinical placement for these two subjects has moved from Phase 2 to Phase 3.
The circular highlighted that new modules have been included in the Pandemic Module and Family Adoption Program in Community Medicine. Clinical messages have been rescheduled to facilitate learning and help students cope with the introduction of the common national final test. Furthermore, there are no broadcasts during electives.
Another major change concerns the elimination of additional batches. Additional exams are now taken no later than one month after the results of regular exams.
The notice, addressed to all deans/directors of medical colleges and clerks/rectors of medical colleges, is signed by Shambhu Sharan Kumar, the director of the Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB).
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