Chennai: National Medical Council has issued showcause notices to 34 of Tamil Nadu’s 36 govt medical colleges, excluding Madras Medical College and Govt Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital, asking them to explain deficiencies in faculty and services, labs and surgeries.Shortage of staff in up to 95% of the departments, including general medicine, general surgery, orthopaedics, and dermatology, due to existing vacancies, was among the most common deficiencies quoted in the notice.For instance, 19 of 20 departments in Govt Chengalpet Medical College were found deficient in faculty/resident/tutor as per AEBAS record data in departments from anatomy to radiodiagnosis. At Govt Kilpauk Medical Collegeand Hospital, 8 of 20 departments reported inadequacy in faculty members. While both these colleges had inadequate data in pathology reports, the first didn’t conduct any “emergency surgery” as per data uploaded on NMC portal.The May 7 showcause notices, from undergraduate medical education board director Sukh Lal Meena, seek written clarification within a week from each of the deans . “In case the opportunity provided is not availed, it will be presumed the college doesn’t have any clarification to furnish, and no further opportunity will be given, and a decision as deemed fit shall be taken by the UGMEB.” Provision of Maintenance of Standard of Medical Education Regulation, 2023 chapter III-clause 8 allows the board to impose a penalty of up to 1 crore on medical institutions, it said.As per the regulation notified on Sept 19, 2023, institutions must submit annual disclosure reports in the prescribed mode. On Nov 1, 2024, and April 25, all colleges permitted to admit MBBS students were directed to fill in details/data on the NMC portal for annual declaration, including total faculty, inpatient and outpatient details, and number of surgeries. The showcause notices were sent based on reports from experts nominated.Director of medical education Dr J Sangumani said vacancies in assistant professor, associate professor, and professor posts are being filled through counselling. “Most will join in a couple of days. We are hoping to send a letter to NMC stating we have filled all vacancies.”Doctors’ bodies said it will be impossible to fill vacancies which arose in the last three years due to a lack of timely counselling and promotions. In 2024, TN govt doctors association said there were at least 30% vacancies in doctors’ positions across govt hospitals. On Monday, Service Doctors and Post Graduates Association said counselling for 2023 batch was just over. “We still have counselling for two more years. Vacancies will exist until counselling is over. Also, govt has failed to increase staff strength as per the requirement of NMC,” said state organising secretary Dr A Ramalingam.