The 2015 Lancet article titled “India’s medical education system hit by scandals,” authored by Dinesh C. Sharma and published on August 8, 2015, as a World Report, examines ongoing corruption and systemic flaws in India’s medical education framework. 0 4 It highlights how recent high-profile scandals, particularly in entrance examinations, reflect deeper structural issues affecting the quality and integrity of training future doctors.

Key points include the rapid expansion of medical education, driven by factors like overseas employment opportunities and corporate investments, with the sector growing at around 14% annually in the early 2010s and projected to reach 21%. 11 This growth has led to concerns over training quality, regulatory corruption, and inadequate governance.

Examples of scandals detailed in the article focus on corruption in medical entrance exams at both state and national levels. Notable cases include large-scale cheating operations uncovered in states like Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, where criminal networks facilitated fraud using sophisticated methods such as hidden communication devices, impersonation with fake identities, and leaked exam papers. 0 10 11 Whistleblowers alleged that some students gained admission to government medical colleges without sitting the exams, often by paying bribes, while medical seats in private institutions were sold at inflated prices, denying access to deserving candidates. 0 11 The article also references the Kolkata AMRI Hospital fire as an example of broader failures, even in accredited facilities, underscoring lapses in standards and oversight. 11 Additionally, many private medical colleges—accounting for nearly a third of seats—have faced recognition cancellations for not meeting minimum standards. 11

Broader systemic issues discussed encompass the dominance of the private sector, fueled by commercial incentives, which has exacerbated corrupt practices and led to subpar education. 11 The article addresses health worker migration, noting it contributes to domestic shortages but is often misattributed, with root causes lying in urban-rural divides, public-private imbalances, and poor retention policies. 11 Quantifying shortages is challenging due to inadequate health data systems, and the private sector’s influence limits government control over pay and conditions, particularly for nurses who prefer public roles. 11 Corruption within regulatory bodies like the Medical Council of India (MCI) is portrayed as endemic, with calls for reform to involve wider stakeholder participation. 10 11

The article concludes by emphasizing the need for urgent regulatory reforms to tackle corruption, improve governance, and ensure educational integrity. 10 11 It recommends examining shortages through the lens of domestic training, recruitment, and retention policies rather than solely blaming migration, while advocating for better oversight to address vested interests in skills export and quality deficits. 11 Overall, it portrays the system as in disarray, urging comprehensive changes to safeguard public health.

In July 2025, The Lancet published an editorial titled “Corruption scandal engulfs Indian medical education,” authored by Dinesh C. Sharma, highlighting allegations from India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of widespread bribery, criminal conspiracy, forgery, and collusion. 0 The piece detailed a scandal involving National Medical Commission (NMC) regulators, University Grants Commission (UGC) officials, politicians, and private medical colleges, where bribes were allegedly exchanged for favorable inspections and approvals, undermining quality standards in medical education. 11 13 15 It criticized the NMC for lacking a clear action plan and being hampered by centralized power and bureaucratic inefficiencies, raising concerns about the integrity of India’s medical training and future healthcare quality. 13

This editorial drew criticism from Indian public health experts. In August 2025, the Indian Journal of Community Health published a response arguing that The Lancet’s piece deviated from scientific principles by focusing on unverified allegations rather than evidence, used a biased and assumptive headline implying systemic collapse without due process, prioritized sensationalism over objectivity, overlooked the NMC’s self-corrective measures (such as investigations, blacklisting assessors, and denying seat renewals), and provided no new empirical data or insights. 17 12 The critics urged The Lancet to refocus on rigorous, evidence-based content.

In late October 2025, The Lancet followed up with another piece titled “A system under transformation, not collapse,” authored by Dr. Krishna Mohan Surapaneni, which countered the earlier narrative by emphasizing positive developments in India’s medical education framework. 3 10 It described India as operating the world’s largest undergraduate medical education network, with 780 medical colleges and an annual intake of approximately 118,148 students. 10 Key highlights included the NMC’s 10-year recognition by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) in 2023, which validates India’s regulatory standards and opens global postgraduate opportunities for graduates. 10 The article noted ongoing reforms like uniform inspections, digital platforms for oversight, public disclosure of compliance data, and a national strategy to strengthen the health workforce, improve access, and ensure quality care—reflecting a commitment to transparency, accountability, and ethical practices despite persistent challenges. 10

These publications reflect ongoing debates in The Lancet about the challenges and progress in Indian medical education, building on earlier coverage such as a 2015 article on scandals in entrance exams and broader systemic issues. 2