The National Medical Commission (NMC) has officially withdrawn its recently revised Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) curriculum for MBBS students following backlash from differently-abled doctors and LGBTQIA+ medical professionals.
The guidelines, released earlier, were criticized for failing to protect the rights of these communities, leading to widespread protests and demands for their cancellation. The NMC announced the withdrawal on Thursday, September 5, amid growing controversy.
Prominent disability rights activist Dr Satendra Singh, Director Professor of Physiology at the University College of Medical Sciences and GTB Hospital, Delhi, voiced concern over the curriculum’s shortcomings, warning against complacency as the NMC has a history of reversing. "The NMC curriculum has only been withdrawn for now. We must wait to see what's coming next," Dr. Singh stated, highlighting the need for continued vigilance.
Dr. Aqsa Shaikh, Professor of Community Medicine at Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, supported the decision to withdraw the guidelines, calling it a step in the right direction. Both Dr Singh and Dr Shaikh emphasized the importance of ensuring future medical education guidelines are inclusive and respectful of the rights of all individuals, regardless of their abilities or identities.