The National Medical Commission (NMC) has enforced a pivotal change in the postgraduate medical education landscape, making it mandatory for MD/MS students admitted in 2021 to participate in a three-month District Residency Programme (DRP). The Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations of 2023, which came into effect on January 1, 2024, seeks to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical experience by immersing postgraduate medics in rural healthcare services.

The DRP will see resident doctors taking on clinical responsibilities in outpatient, inpatient, casualty, and specialty areas within the district health system or hospital. Dr. Pravin Shingare, former head of the Directorate of Medical Education and Research, lauded this move, emphasizing its potential to enrich students experiences and elevate healthcare standards in districts nationwide.

However, the introduction of the DRP is not without its challenges. The guidelines, while comprehensive, lack a clear definition of work and rest hours for resident doctors, a persistent demand from medical associations. Dr. Aviral Mathur, President of the Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA), highlighted the ambiguous language in the guidelines, expressing concern about its subjectivity and the absence of specific provisions for mental health support.

Beyond the DRP, the regulations introduced provisions related to NEET-PG and NExT, consolidated previous amendments, and implemented an e-logbook system. Stipends, a contentious issue due to disparities between public and private hospitals, are addressed in the guidelines.

(Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/learn-serve-spending-3-months-in-district-hospital-must-for-post-graduate-medicos-now/articleshowprint/106554016.cms )