NMMTA: the National M.Sc Medical Teachers' Association

"Birds of the same feather flock together", it is only natural and appropriate for people having things in common to come together. People from the same academic background too come together and form associations of persons. There are several associations representing diverse academic fields.

In India, Medical M.Sc courses are generally conducted by medical institutions. This 2-3 year postgraduate course is conducted in the subjects of Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology, Microbiology, and Pharmacology and awarded under the faculty of medicine by the universities. Several medical colleges or institutions recognized by the MCI offer medical M.Sc courses. This course, which was initially included in the first schedule of Indian Medical Council Act 1956, was regulated by the MCI until the late 1980s. MCI used to give permission for medical colleges to run these courses. Mysteriously, this process was discontinued. There are no councils in India which regulate medical M.Sc courses or register persons with these degrees.

Until now there has been no national-level association of persons representing medical M.Sc degree holders graduating from medical colleges. There is no documentation or database of numbers of persons with the medical M.Sc degree in India. Therefore, a need for national-level association was felt.

NMMTA, the National M.Sc Medical Teachers' Association, is a national organization of persons with the medical M.Sc postgraduate degree in India. It was established in 2013 as an association of persons registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. It came into being on 14th August 2013 following registration by the Registrar of Societies, District East, Government of NCT of Delhi. Its headquarters is based in Delhi. 

The association was created with the intention of bringing together all persons with medical M.Sc degree in the subjects of Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, and Microbiology that are conducted in medical institutions and awarded under the faculty of medicine. 

There are currently 740 members from 26 states and Union Territories across India, including student and honorary members. The number of persons enrolling into NMMTA is on the rise. The administration of the association is handled by the executive committee, which comprises of President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer,  zonal Joint-secretaries and other members. The association conducts its executive committee and General Body meetings periodically and submits the activity to The Registrar of Societies, Delhi along with the audited financial report. 

Aims of this association include:

to bring medical scientists from different departments under one body

to promote medical science by interdisciplinary exchanges

to explore research and job possibilities for members

to coordinate recent developments in medical science with scientific exchanges from universities, colleges and healthcare industries

to represent the academic and employment-related issues of members

to bring out scientific publications

Public activity:

On 20th March, 2017, NMMTA held a protest event at Jantar Mantar, Delhi against the unjust exclusion of medical M.Sc biomedical scientists in the human resource guidelines for diagnostic laboratories under the Clinical Establishment Act. The event consisted of dharna, procession, submission of memorandum to the health minister and culminated with a press conference. This event has been covered by over 50 online news portals and several newspapers.

Reference: Membership process

Frequently asked questions: FAQ