NMC sets 8-week deadline for all medical colleges to clear stray dogs secure their campuses

The National Medical Commission has directed all government and private medical colleges to secure campuses against stray dogs within eight weeks, following Supreme Court instructions, and mandated round-the-clock availability of anti-rabies vaccines and immunoglobulins.

Hyderabad: To strengthen the preparedness of government and private medical colleges in handling dog bite cases, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued an urgent directive to secure their campuses against the menace of stray dogs.

The NMC notice, issued a few days ago follows stringent instructions from the Supreme Court of India in response to the rising number of dog-bite incidents affecting students and patients.

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Under the new mandate, all medical institutions must ensure their premises are fully secured with boundary walls, fencing, and gates within a strict eight-week window. The NMC has ordered the appointment of a dedicated Nodal Officer for every medical college, whose primary responsibility will be to prevent the entry of stray animals and maintain high standards of waste management to eliminate food sources that attract packs.

Crucially, the directive specifies that any stray dogs found within hospital or college grounds must be immediately removed by local authorities for sterilization and vaccination. These animals are prohibited from being released back into the same institutional areas. Furthermore, to address the medical aftermath of attacks, the NMC has made it mandatory for all hospitals to maintain a 24/7 uninterrupted stock of anti-rabies vaccines and immunoglobulins.

Failure to comply with these safety protocols could lead to serious repercussions, as the Union Health Ministry is required to file a compliance affidavit before the Supreme Court. In the notice, the NMC has informed the Heads of various medical institutions to treat this issue with “utmost priority” for ensuring a bite-free environment for the medical community.