Disability rights activists have written to the National Medical Commission (NMC), the regulatory body that governs medical education and practice in India, asking for a Supreme Court order to facilitate measures that would support students with disabilities prior to the release of the NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) 2025-26 brochure this year. Pointing to several lapses in implementation, the Doctors With Disabilities: Agents of Change group said adequate committees, accommodation, and other important measures need to be put in place.
Among their demands are enabling the appropriately trained members of the Disability Assessment Boards to apply the functional competency test; the NMC to issue fresh guidelines for admitting persons with disabilities (PwD) into medical courses; and include experts with disability or persons who have worked on disability justice in the committee formulating the guidelines.
Also read: Disabled persons must not be stopped from pursuing academic goals, if handicap does not come in way: SC
Applicants to the NEET examination must be informed on the compliance of accessibility norms for reasonable accommodation available at colleges. The NMC should also create a database with information on accessibility, and enable units at medical colleges to act as points of contact for PwDs.
Students must be informed about the ‘Enabling Units’ and ‘Equal Opportunity Cells’ through the booklet circulated for new MBBS students, the college website, and via the Equal Opportunity Policy under Section 21 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act.
“Despite court judgments directing the NMC to comply with its directions before the publication of the NEET admission brochure for the academic year 2025-26, no instructions have been issued from the NMC to medical institutions,’’ disability rights activist Satendra Singh said.
The NMC has also been asked to sensitise all the colleges on reservation criteria for PwDs, and their needs after they secure admission.
Also read: Explained | The allegations over NEET-UG 2024
Dr. Singh said that unlike progressive regulatory bodies in the U.S. and the U.K., the NMC was unfortunately creating hurdles for PwDs who aspired to a medical education in India.
“Justice is being served only through the courts. In Neha Pudil v. UOI (2022), the Delhi High Court ordered the NMC to revise its guidelines within six months, but they failed to comply. Two Supreme Court orders in October 2024 reiterated the same directive, yet no action has been taken in the last three months. The NMC has still not revised its guidelines. Hence, this appeal. The Commission continues to ignore court orders, forcing aspirants with disabilities to fight for their rightful place in the MBBS course,’’ Dr. Singh said.
