The National Medical Commission (NMC) has ordered all Indian states and union territories to quickly hire more teachers for medical colleges. This follows a major decision by the Patna High Court, which pointed out that there aren't enough professors to properly train students or treat patients.
For years, the NMC focused on AEBAS (Aadhaar-Enabled Biometric Attendance System) to catch "ghost faculty"—teachers who exist on paper but don't show up. However, the Patna High Court pointed out a deeper crisis: even if every registered teacher showed up, there still aren't enough of them.
In some colleges, vacancies exceed 50%, forcing the existing staff into "torturous" shifts lasting 24 to 72 hours. This leads to a dangerous cycle:
It was also noted that simply tracking attendance with digital systems isn't enough—the government actually needs to hire more people.
This shift marks a change in priority from monitoring (watching who is present) to capacity building (hiring more people). By filling these "vacant seats," the government aims to create a healthier environment where doctors can actually rest, students can properly learn, and patients receive the safe, high-quality care they deserve.
