What is the issue?
- There is nationwide opposition to the proposed National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill 2017.
- With Lok Sabha sending it to the Parliamentary standing committee on health, the provisions need a serious rethink.
What are the key provisions?
- Commission - The NMC bill seeks to replace the Medical Council of India with National Medical Commission as the top regulator of medical education.
- The 20 members National Medical Commission will be at the top of a four-tier structure for regulation.
- NMC will comprise of a Chairperson, a member secretary, eight ex-officio members and 10 part-time members.
- Out of the 8 ex-officio members, four shall be presidents of the boards constituted under the act.
- The remaining four shall be nominees from three ministries viz. Health, Pharmaceuticals, HRD and one from Director General of Health Services.
- Autonomous Boards - The Bill sets up under the supervision of the NMC certain autonomous boards which are:
- the Under-Graduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) and the Post-Graduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB)
- the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB)
- the Ethics and Medical Registration Board
- Each board will consist of a President and two members, appointed by the central government.
- Medical Advisory Council - It will be a platform for the states/union territories to put forth their views and concerns before the NMC.
- Essentially, the Council will advise/make recommendations to and oversee the functions of the NMC.
- Exam - Students have to clear the common entrance exam NEET for MBBS.
- Besides, the National Licentiate Examination will be mandatory for medical graduates before practising/pursuing PG.
- Under specified regulations, the NMC can also permit a medical professional to perform surgery or practise medicine without qualifying the licentiate (exit) exam.
- AYUSH practitioners - On completion of a bridge course, practitioners of Indian systems of medicine, including Ayurveda and homoeopathy would be allowed to practise allopathy.
- The rationale is to address the shortfall of rural doctors by creating a new cadre of practitioners.
- Private college - The government, under the NMC, can dictate guidelines for fees up to 40% of seats in private medical colleges.
- This is aimed at giving students relief from the exorbitant fees charged by these colleges and is a standout feature of the bill.
What are the contentions?
- Registry - Graduates of Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery, and Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery are already registered with their respective councils.
- The NMC registry, in addition to this, could result in dual registration, which is neither open nor permissible.
- Corruption - The bill aims to overhaul the corrupt and inefficient Medical Council of India.
- This is sought to be accomplished through an independent Medical Advisory Council.
- However all members of the Council are members of the NMC as well, thereby undermining the council's independence and its very purpose.
- Bridge Course - The provision has created widespread resentment among allopathy doctors.
What could possibly be done?
- The government could empower existing doctors before integrating alternative-medicine practitioners into modern medicine.
- Notably, MCI regulations prevent even experienced MBBS doctors from carrying out procedures like caesarians and ultrasound tests.
- Also, nurses are barred from administering anaesthesia.
- An alternative would be to have a three-year diploma for rural medical-care providers, as earlier practised in Chhattisgarh.
- Graduates from such diploma courses could be allowed to provide basic care in under-served regions, to meet out the shortfall.
Source: The Hindu, Financial Express
