The National Commission for Homeopathy (NCH) on Friday published new regulations for the assessment and assessment of all medical colleges offering undergraduate courses in homeopathic medicine and surgery (BHMS) and postgraduate (PG) courses in the field.
The regulations include guidelines for inspection, increase in the number of seats and de-recognition of homeopathic colleges.
According to the NCH notification, every existing institution will now have to annually provide the information and relevant appendices required for the assessment and rating.
Similarly, the inspection for establishing a new medical institution will be considered only after assessing the eligibility requirements as per the standards laid down by the Homeopathy Education Board for conducting undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
In addition, all eligible medical institutions will be assessed through assessment after a period of five years since their opening and every year thereafter, provided that the minimum essential standards as specified are maintained.
The notification also lays down guidelines on the method of appointment of inspectors and independent credit rating agencies for assessment and rating purposes. “These inspectors should possess a PG medical qualification in homeopathy and have at least five years of experience as a doctor in central or state institutions,” the guidelines said.
The guidelines add that inspections in BHMS institutions can be conducted physically, online or hybrid.
The minimum essential standard on which institutions will be assessed includes infrastructure and equipment, hospital operations, course outcomes and accreditation from bodies such as the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals (NABH), the National Accreditation Board for Testing and calibration laboratories (NABL) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
The notice also states that fines may be imposed on institutions that fail to maintain the minimum essential standards as specified by the NCH.
“If, after assessment, an institution does not meet the minimum essential standards as specified, the Medical Assessment and Rating Board for Homeopathy (MARBH) will reduce the number of seats or refuse admission and recommend to the Commission to withdraw recognition. that academic year in question or next year, as the case may be,” the notice said.
The NCH is the central body that aims to improve access to quality and affordable medical education in homeopathy. It currently oversees more than 250 government and private educational institutions in the field of homeopathy.
First print: March 15, 2024 | 11:49 PM IST