Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, Jan 29:: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has warned Medical Colleges to show compliance or face consequences for not yet implementing the NIC Aadhaar Enabled Biometric Attendance System (AEBAS), Hospital Management Information System (HMIS), and connection of CCTVs feed to Command & Control Centre.
The NMC issued the warning which noted: “Take required steps to avert unfavourable actions,” after discovering that certain Medical Colleges had not properly implemented the directives of the Apex Medical Body despite numerous requests and reminders.
It may be recalled here that the NMC had instructed all Medical Colleges to deploy AEBAS by August of last year in an effort to establish an efficient and practical digital method to record faculty attendance.
It was stated in an earlier letter from the NMC Secretary to all Medical Colleges that the deployment of a biometric attendance system might be used as an efficient and practical digital solution to track faculty, senior residents, and tutor attendance at Medical Colleges.
“Therefore, NMC intends to implement the Aadhaar Enabled Biometric Attendance System (AEBAS) developed by the National Informatics Center (NIC) in all Government and private Medical Colleges.”
Additionally, the NMC suggested making AEBAS mandatory for all Medical Colleges in December of last year, along with revisions to the Minimum Requirements for Annual MBBS Admission Regulation, 2020.
While highlighting the significance of the decision, the NMC also made clear that it would not provide approval for any additional renewals, recognitions, or continuations of recognition “and further growth of medical seats and construction of new Medical Colleges or PG courses without AEBAS.”
After repeated reminders, the NMC in the latest letter has stated: “This is in continuation of various letters of NMC regarding implementation of NIC Aadhaar Enabled Biometric Attendance System (AEBAS), Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) and connection of CCTVs feed to Command & Control Centre at National Medical Commission across all medical colleges in India. It has been observed that despite various reminders and requests from NMC, many medical colleges are yet to fully implement above mentioned IT initiatives of the Commission.”
The letter said that the NMC has already informed the Medical Colleges that the data from AEBAS, HMIS, and CCTV integration with NMC will be used to make decisions regarding any applications for renewals, recognition CoR (Continuation of Recognition), surprise inspections, increases in UG/PG seats, approval of PG courses, and colleges applying for new establishments.
The letter also stated that the Minister of Health and Family Welfare had previously stated that it was necessary to establish AEBAS, HIMS, and CCTV link feed.
The NMC noted that to avoid negative consequences, medical colleges should implement the relevant IT measures right now, stating: “AII colleges are therefore, again directed to take necessary steps to fully implement Aadhaar Enabled Biometric Attendance System (AEBAS), Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) and connection of CCTVs feed to Command & Control Centre at National Medical Commission immediately to prevent adverse actions against them.”
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