Pune: MBBS Interns Raise Concerns Over Compulsory Research Requirement at Symbiosis Medical College
Lavale, 19th September 2025: A group of MBBS interns at Symbiosis Medical College for Women (SMCW), Pune, has raised concerns over a compulsory research requirement during their internship, calling it an “unjust and crushing mandate” that is affecting their mental health and future prospects.
In an anonymous plea to the media, the interns stated that the college has made it mandatory for all interns to complete a research project in order to receive internship completion certification. They claim that this requirement is not mentioned in the official MBBS internship guidelines issued by the National Medical Commission (NMC) and that repeated attempts to seek clarification from the NMC have gone unanswered.
The interns described the situation as extremely stressful, saying: “Internship is already a grueling phase of medical training—long hours, heavy responsibilities, endless exhaustion. To add an arbitrary research burden on top of this is not only unfair, it is inhumane. Many of us are breaking down under the pressure. Feelings of depression, helplessness, and hopelessness are spreading among interns.”
They urged the media to bring attention to their plight, stating that only public awareness could ensure accountability and relief.
Responding to the interns’ concerns, Symbiosis Medical College clarified that the research requirement is part of the structured curriculum outlined under NMC regulations. According to the college statement:
The National Medical Commission (Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship) Regulations, 2021 prescribe that interns must engage in research work under the guidance of a mentor.
Mentors, defined as senior and qualified medical teachers, are required to guide trainees in education, skill enhancement, research work, and ethical practices.
The Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) curriculum and the AETCOM module further emphasize research literacy, documentation skills, and ethical research conduct.
Additional frameworks such as the UGC Regulations 2023 and National Education Policy 2020 encourage early and sustained exposure to research as part of holistic medical education.
SMCW stated that it has been providing workshops, seminars, and mentoring support to help students fulfill these requirements and that previous student queries to the NMC on the same matter were addressed satisfactorily.
The college added: “There is absolutely no cause of any stress or depression or feeling of helplessness, as research work is engrained in the Curriculum / Regulations prescribed by NMC. Symbiosis remains a student-centric institution and is committed to producing competent and well-rounded clinicians.”
