Chennai: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has reiterated that there will be no compromise on the quality and ethical standards of medical education in the country.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Commission said that assessors for inspections are drawn from medical colleges and are not directly appointed by the NMC. It also stressed that all medical institutions and faculty members must uphold ethical, professional, and regulatory standards.

The Commission's clarification comes in the wake of a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case involving the arrest of a medical professor in Karnataka for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 10 lakh in connection with a quality assessment inspection of a medical college. Further investigation is underway to ascertain the involvement of others.

The NMC is responsible for granting recognition and renewal of recognition to medical colleges across the country. As part of the process, the Commission carries out surprise inspections periodically. Professors from various institutions can apply to serve as assessors, who are usually informed 48 hours before the scheduled inspection.

The Commission underlined that strict adherence to norms is essential and warned that any deviation from ethical conduct would be dealt with seriously.