While the corruption-ridden Medical Council of India (MCI) no more exists following its dissolution recently, its ill-conceived proposals and Union Health Ministry's apathy have started rendering thousands of non-medical teachers(biomedical scientists with medical M.Sc postgraduate degrees) in the country, jobless.

Non-medical teachers are those having medical M.Sc degree/PhD in anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, microbiology and biochemistry from MCI-recognised colleges.

The recent replacement of the MCI with the Board of Governors (BoG) of eminent personalities, has, however,  brought a ray of hope among the non-medical teachers working in the non-clinical departments of medical and dental colleges across the States. Hitherto neglected by the MCI, they feel that the BoG will recognise the services of the biomedical scientists in medical education and healthcare.

Not without reason. Those pursuing medical M.Sc courses in medical colleges are trained and skilled to render their services as consultants in diagnostic laboratories, teachers in non-clinical subjects of medical colleges and scientists in research establishments, pointed out Dr Sridhar Rao, President, National MSc Medical Teachers' Association (NMMTA),  a representative of persons having medical M.Sc postgraduate degree in from MCI-recognised medical colleges.

However, the 'hostile policies' of the ex-MCI have started taking toll on the profession, he rued.

The NMMTA wants striking down of the MCI's proposal  that aims to reduce appointment of non-medical teachers in colleges to 15 per cent from 30 per cent as it has "jeopardises job opportunities for those having medical M.Sc postgraduate degrees".

Though the proposal has not seen light of the day till date, some of the medical colleges have on their own started cutting down their posts: hiring MBBS Graduates for the post of tutors, instead of medical MSc  postgraduates who are specialists in their subjects.

Also, said Dr Rao, as those pursuing medical M.Sc courses can also be utilized for diagnostics or research purposes given their academic background, ironically thousands of them with Ph.D  are idle at medical college, who do only teaching. 

He also alleged discrimination at various levels ranging from  work place to  responsibilities, salaries, promotions etc.  Also, many non-medical teachers are denied regularisation of job, increments, promotion etc. They are given low wages and exploited heavily. There is no ombudsman for grievances, Dr Rao said.

"Once included in first schedule of IMC act, the MCI had silently removed medical M.Sc course and washed its hands off it. Until 1980s MCI used to recognise these courses and used to give medical colleges permission to run them, but not anymore," he said.