Srinagar, Sep 16: The National Medical Commission (NMC) on Wednesday issued guidelines for assessment of Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) seeking admission to postgraduate medical courses, stressing individualised functional assessment, accommodation and patient safety.
The guidelines apply to candidates seeking admission to MD, MS and DNB courses under the PwBD category, besides medical colleges, the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), State Counselling Authorities and Medical Assessment Boards involved in the admission process.
The NMC said PwBD candidates are entitled to equality, dignity, non-discrimination and reasonable accommodation in medical education under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
At the same time, it said postgraduate medical education requires higher levels of clinical competence, decision-making, procedural skills and, in several specialties, the ability to respond rapidly in emergency situations.
Under the new framework, disability by itself will not be treated as a disqualification unless it demonstrably prevents a candidate from acquiring essential competencies despite reasonable accommodation.
The Commission has also made clear that candidates will not be declared eligible or ineligible solely on the basis of the percentage or category of disability recorded in their Unique Disability Identity (UDID) card.
Candidates applying under the PwBD category must have a benchmark disability of at least 40 per cent and possess a valid UDID card. However, the designated Medical Assessment Board will independently assess their functional competency for the particular postgraduate course.
The new guidelines provide for discipline-specific assessment, recognising that requirements vary between surgical, clinical, pre-clinical and para-clinical specialties.
Surgical disciplines, for instance, may require fine motor skills, bimanual dexterity, mobility, depth perception, endurance and rapid decision-making.
For other specialties, the NMC said assessment may include history-taking, examination, documentation, communication, basic procedures and sustained clinical work.
Reasonable accommodation may include assistive devices, adaptive equipment, digital accessibility, accessible teaching material, communication support, ergonomic modifications, examination accommodations and accessible clinical learning environments.
The guidelines specifically provide assessment criteria for candidates with Autism Spectrum Disorder, mental illness, Specific Learning Disorder, intellectual disability and chronic neurological disorders.
Such candidates may be considered eligible where they can demonstrate the competencies required for the relevant course, with reasonable accommodation and support where necessary.
The final decision will be taken by a designated Medical Assessment Board after physical verification and functional assessment. The Board can classify a candidate as eligible, eligible with reasonable accommodation, or ineligible. Any decision of ineligibility must be supported by objective medical and functional evidence and recorded through a reasoned and speaking order.
NMC said candidates aggrieved by a Medical Assessment Board decision can appeal before an Appellate Authority constituted by the Directorate General of Health Services. The authority can seek additional medical opinions or order a fresh assessment.
The NMC has also directed medical colleges to establish accessible grievance redressal mechanisms and designate a Nodal Officer or enabling unit to address issues concerning PwBD candidates and facilitate clinical accommodations.
The Commission said the overarching principle would be to balance equality of opportunity, academic standards and patient safety, with assessments based on functional competency, objective evidence and possibility of reasonable accommodation rather than generalised assumptions about disability.
