The teachers who teach the clinical subjects in all medical colleges are always doctors (MBBS + MS/MD) whereas a minority of the teachers in the non-clinical subjects are scientists (medical M.Sc / Ph.D.), also called "non-medical" teachers. In the 1950s when not many doctors were pursuing postgraduation in non-clinical specialties, a severe shortage of teachers occurred in these specialties. The Health Survey and Planning Committee (Mudaliar Committee) of 1961 recommended opening up of the M.Sc courses in the five non-clinical subjects to non-MBBS science graduates so as to create teachers to teach in medical colleges. The medical M.Sc courses (in Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology & Microbiology) were included in the first schedule of the Indian Medical Council Act. Since the M.Sc courses were pursued by the graduates in life sciences and MD courses in the same subjects were introduced for the medical graduates, MCI quietly withdrew the regulation of M.Sc courses. It also claims that these courses are no longer in the first schedule. At one point in time around 100 medical colleges were running medical M.Sc courses in these five non-clinical subjects, now around 35 medical colleges do.

The Teachers Eligibility and Qualifications (TEQ) guidelines of the MCI made a provision to appoint scientist teachers in Anatomy, Physiology, Pharmacology & Microbiology up to 30% of faculty strength, and up to 50% of faculty strength in Biochemistry. There are currently a couple of thousands of non-medical teachers in the various medical colleges across India working in designations ranging from Tutor to Professor & HODs. Similarly, there are plenty of non-medical teachers in centrally administered medical institutions such as AIMMS, PGI, JIPMER, ESI, etc. The appointment of scientists as teachers in the non-clinical specialties is not unique to India; it is practiced almost everywhere. In the top 10 medical colleges of the world, up to 60% of teachers are scientists. In some colleges, some departments are almost entirely composed of scientists. In the US, 21% of teachers in medical colleges are scientists. Although it may seem rational that only doctors should teach MBBS students, it must be borne in mind that non-clinical subjects can be taught effectively by the scientists, who are trained in the same subjects.

One may still wonder how can a scientist teach medical students even if the subjects are non-clinical. This is because the curriculum and syllabus of medical M.Sc courses are similar in content and quality to the MD courses on the same subjects. Often, both the medical M.Sc and MD courses are conducted in the same medical college by the same faculty using the same curriculum. Both the degrees are offered under the 'faculty of medicine' by the health universities. In addition, the students pursuing medical M.Sc courses have to compulsorily undergo one-year course in Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry of the human body (similar to first year MBBS course) so that they are well-versed with the structure and functioning of human body. Therefore, it can be conveniently concluded that while the underlying graduate degrees are different, the postgraduate degrees are almost similar.

Due to faulty government policies, the number of MBBS UG seats rose in the medical colleges but the number of MD/MS PG seats didn't rise proportionately. There were more doctors but fewer opportunities to take up postgraduation in clinical subjects, hence an increasing number of doctors started pursuing MD in non-clinical subjects. This created competition for the teaching jobs in medical colleges. At the same time, the MCI inexplicably reduced the student-teacher ratio, thereby making the competition for limited jobs even more fierce.

When the MCI got replaced by the NMC, it published a draft adopting the MCI guidelines regarding the appointment of non-medical teachers. It sought feedback from the stakeholders. Thousands, including non-medical teachers and "non-clinical" medical teachers sent their feedback. In just 7 working days, NMC went through these feedback and decided to reduce the permissible intake of non-medical faculty from 30% to 15% in Anatomy and Physiology, from 50% to 15% in Biochemistry, and from 30% to 0% in Microbiology and Pharmacology. This was the result of incessant lobbying by the community of non-clinical doctors who wanted all the teaching jobs for themselves. In 2018, following a representation from an association of non-clinical doctors MCI had proposed to halve and halt the appointment of non-medical teachers. A sub-committee was formed to examine this issue. The board of governors in supersession of MCI rejected that proposal. Again, following another representation from the same association, the MCI's board of governors categorically stated in January 2020 that non-medical teachers are required as medical teachers are in short supply. Under pressure from the lobbyists, NMC took a U-turn in October 2020.

The points that the lobbyists use against the non-medical teachers are the increased availability of medical teachers and the introduction of the new competency based medical curriculum (CBME). While there is no doubt that more numbers of non-clinical doctors are now available for the role of teachers, the vacancies still exist. Many positions are still going vacant for the want of medical teachers, which could have otherwise been filled by the scientist teachers. These conditions force the colleges to deprive the students of teachers rather than appoint scientist teachers. Even to this day, several colleges are managing with non-medical teachers because there is a shortage of medical teachers. For the last few years many PG seats in the non-clinical specialties are going vacant, hence the shortage of medical teachers is likely to continue for several years.

The CBME involves early clinical exposure and integration (horizontal and vertical) with other non-clinical and clinical subjects right from the first year of the MBBS course. The lobbyists claim that since only the medical teachers have exposure to patients during their own MBBS days, they are better equipped to deal with the new curriculum. While medical teachers can certainly do well, we believe that it is not essential. Only 20% of the syllabus has integrations; there are several chapters that don't need integration at all. All the current teachers, whether medical or non-medical are supposed to undertake Curriculum Implementation Support Programme (CISP), Revised Basic Medical Education as well as Attitude, Ethics & Communication (AETCOM) trainings. In fact, most non-medical teachers have already undertaken these training programs. A non-medical teacher can always seek the help of medical teachers of other specialties to fill the gap. In any case, the 30% limit means only 1-2 non-medical teachers are present in the department whereas the rest (70%) teachers are doctors, who should be able to compensate the shortcomings, if any.

Besides teaching, the non-medical teachers in the department of Biochemistry and Microbiology also take part in clinical diagnostic laboratory, train MD students, and participate in research activities. In the present COVID pandemic, non-medical teachers have been in the forefront of establishing and running the COVID testing laboratories. Scientists should be an integral component in both medical teaching and diagnostics, as is practiced in many parts of the world. Instead of supporting the scientists, upgrading them, or utilizing them better, the NMC has gone for their exclusion. This certainly is a flowed move.

Through its FAQ document, NMC has clarified that the new guidelines would be applicable only to the new colleges that would admit students into the 2021-22 batch. The new guidelines would also apply to those medical colleges that would seek enhancement in students' admission. Also, any new appointment into the medical college, whether old or new, will have to follow the new guidelines. This effectively means that a non-medical teacher would be forced to stay put in the same college until retirement, and all possibilities to seek new employment in any college, whether new or old, would be denied. Also, the colleges that opt for seat enhancements will be forced to terminate existing employees in order to fulfill the new guidelines. This will mean that hundreds of teachers would lose jobs. Also, the students who are pursuing medical M.Sc courses hoping to join medical colleges as teachers will have their doors closed by the time they complete their education. It is to be noted here that many medical colleges clearly state in their course prospectus that students can get teaching jobs in medical colleges. These students would be cheated of their chances to earn a livelihood. Having pursued medical M.Sc courses, there are limited avenues of employments outside the medical colleges. In many Western countries, there are no PG courses for doctors in the non-clinical specialties; these areas are mostly serviced by the scientists. In a country that has skewed patient-doctor ratio, more doctors are required to provide direct healthcare, something which our government must seriously consider.

In every way, the scientists stand to lose, therefore they are protesting it. The entire community of non-medical teachers and students pursuing these courses are alarmed, anxious, and tensed. Several representations have been submitted to the Prime Minister's office, health ministry, NMC along with related bodies such as NITI Aayog, UGC, and the HRD ministry. The scientists' community feel that since NMC is populated and dominated by the doctors, this body would always take the side of doctors whenever there is a conflict of interest. Although NMC is an independent body, the scientists feel that the ministry should step in as it is expected to impartially safeguard the interests of all the stakeholders. For far too long the ministry has pandered to the doctors' community and neglected all others involved in healthcare and medical education. It is time for the government to stand up to the scientists' community and restore their due place. The scientists' community has demanded that the previous MCI norms on the appointment of non-medical teachers be restored.

Meanwhile, National M.Sc Medical Teachers' Association (NMMTA) has filed a writ petition against the new guidelines in the Delhi High Court, with the health ministry as the chief respondent. The court has directed to respondents to file their replies.