Concerns with the NMC Bill

What is the issue?

Brought as a measure of overhauling the medical regulatory system, the National Medical Commission Bill has some serious shortfalls.

What are the problems with health care system?

• The Bill comes as a recognition that self-regulation under the Medical Commission India has failed the medical profession on many counts.
• Medical education is prohibitively expensive, scarce and its syllabi so inadequate.
• Inevitably, the process of regulation in a situation of a serious shortage of medical colleges has been riddled with corruption.
• There is a worrying shortage of doctors and health care professionals in the country, especially in remote regions.

What are the shortfalls in the bill?

• There are genuine worries on how effective the Bill could address the corruption-ridden health care system.
• The elaborate structure under the NMC Bill distributes powers more widely and has checks and balances.
• However, experience has shown that government appointments to regulatory roles do not necessarily imply better regulation.
• The cronyism in appointments that afflicts regulatory bodies could render insignificant the purpose of rooting out corruption.
• Also, the NMC’s power to effect deep-rooted change remains in doubt because of its umbrella status.
• There is a possibility of abdication of responsibility by the states in setting up medical councils in their jurisdictions within three years.
• More importantly, the clause on bridge course fails to acknowledge the fundamental differing principles that traditional and modern medical systems follow.

Source: Business Standard