Medical Commission warns students and families to check college approvals before joining

The National Medical Commission has issued an advisory warning students and parents against enrolling in medical colleges without checking their official approval status. Fraudulent institutions are reportedly misleading aspirants through online promotions, websites, and direct admission offers.

Background

The advisory follows directions from the Supreme Court in the ongoing case of Ayesha Jain versus Amity University, Noida and others. The court intervened after reports emerged of a fake medical college operating from a farmhouse and claiming to offer medical courses.

What To Check

The Commission has clarified that a college appearing on an official list or operating in the past does not mean it has permission to admit students for the current academic year. Candidates must independently check official records from the National Medical Commission and the Medical Assessment and Rating Board for the sanctioned seat count and approval status. Students should not rely only on college prospectuses, websites, social media posts, or letters of permission shown by representatives.

Safe Admission Steps

For counselling-based admissions, candidates must use official channels such as the Medical Counselling Committee or competent state and union territory authorities. Students must also avoid paying fees to unauthorized agents or personal bank accounts. The Commission noted that affiliation from one authority for a specific purpose does not mean the institution has permission from the Commission to run an MBBS course. Separate rules also apply to pharmacy, nursing, Ayurveda, and allied healthcare programmes, which are managed by different regulators.

Context

Choosing an unverified medical college can leave students with invalid degrees that do not permit them to practice medicine legally. Regulatory bodies like the National Medical Commission oversee medical education standards to protect students and ensure public health safety across the country.