Dr Sheth takes charge as NMC Chairperson

The Union Cabinet has appointed noted cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Abhijat Sheth as the Chairperson of the National Medical Commission (NMC), India’s apex regulatory body for medical education and practice. He succeeds Dr BN Gangadhar, who stepped down citing health concerns.

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Dr Sheth, who currently also serves as the President of the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), brings with him extensive clinical and administrative experience from both India and the UK.

In a statement outlining his priorities, Dr Sheth said, “My primary focus is to improve the quality of education, ease access and aim for good governance and teamwork to meet governmental objectives.”

Official sources confirmed that Dr Gangadhar had submitted his resignation in October 2024 due to health reasons, but continued in the role until a suitable successor was appointed. The transition is expected to be smooth, with Dr Sheth taking over after mutual discussions with his predecessor.

Dr Gangadhar’s tenure at the NMC is widely credited with ushering in key reforms to enhance transparency and consistency in medical education. His initiatives included the grading of medical colleges, accreditation by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME), implementation of a revised Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) curriculum and a streamlined regulatory framework. He also championed the use of the Aadhaar Enabled Biometric Attendance System (AEBAS) for real-time faculty monitoring and promoted patient safety training at the undergraduate level.