The Author, Vidisha Singh, is a 1st-year BBA.LLB student at New Law College, Bhartiya Vidyapeeth University, Maharashtra. She is currently interning with LatestLaws.com.
- What is the National Medical Commission Bill, 2019?
The NMC Bill passed on July 29, 2019, was made in response to the Medical Council of India, which was prior to its dissolution riddled with several allegations of conspiracy, bribery and corruption stemming throughout the Indian medical fraternity.
The National Medical Commission is essentially an Indian regulatory body consisting of 33 members which undertakes regulations on medical education and practice.
One of its several objects include larger medical reforms of pro-rural and urban-poor legislation in the country as well as providing an umbrella authority to the medical council by the central government to curb corruption.
It also addresses needs of health services, standardizing quality education and guaranteeing availability of highly specialized medical professionals.
The NMC will sought new provisions such as EXIT exams, which is described under section 15 (1) of the bill as a final year MBBS exam or National Exit Test before the student can start practicing medicine or get admission to post graduate medical courses. Other changes include different methods of medical college assessments and regulation of college fees.
- Why was the NMC bill, 2019 introduced?
Formerly the Medical Council of India (MCI) was responsible for regulating medical education and practice, however several allegations of the council’s lack of accountability as well as corruption and malpractice soon resulted into its investigation and was eventually replaced.
Also , pertaining to the constitution of the previous regulatory body where its members were elected into the council by medical practitioners, critics had suggested at the time to create a nomination based selection for membership in the MCI instead of election and other functional changes in the MCI.
To achieve this the NMC bill was later introduced to overhaul the previous lackluster functioning of the MCI and bring about necessary legislative changes.
- What are the primary objectives of the bill?
- To create and implement policies to regulate medical education and practice in the country.
- Rectification of the rich and poor divide amongst the country’s privatized health sector and provide standardized health care and specializations to all;
This can be done by the NMC providing limited care licenses to practice medicine as Community health provider to such persons that qualify as modern medicine professionals as specified according to regulations;
- To ensure a democratic system for admission into medical colleges and education centers;
- To ensure compliance from state medical councils of policies implemented;
- To assess human resources as well as medical infrastructure and facilities in public hospitals and institutions.
- What are the functions of the Bill?
The NMC at foremost introduces the National Eligibility -cum- Entrance Test for admission into any under graduate or post graduate medical institution. The Bill also introduces the common final year examination called the National Exit Test required for graduating students so they can apply for a practicing license or pursue specializations through higher education.
Foreign practitioners can be provided a temporary license to practice.
The Bill does not however provide an eligibility or validity period for the licenses.
The Bill also intends to provide diversity among its council to better represent the medical community by including health economists, social scientists etc., as well as leading doctors in the field.
For democratizing medical education, the Bill introduces a method by which it will determine the fees of at least 50% of seats in private medical colleges and deemed universities. This is to bridge the economic differences amongst students with different backgrounds and prioritize all talents.
The NMC bill also proposes a “Medical Assessment and Rating Board” to authorize capable third-party persons for the rating and assessment of medical institutions.
The NMC under this Bill will also be a complete statutory organization, from selection of members to its functions, all will be regulated under the purview of the government.
Conclusion
The NMC bill even after its passing through both houses and implementation continues to face criticism by few students and practitioners protesting the NMC from being a government entity as it entangles the complications of bureaucracy with the medical profession, and the students mainly face issues with the idea of the National Exit Test as its assumed to be “highly insensitive” for students who already have gone through a tough academic year.
However a reform was to be inevitable following the exposing of the scandalous practices which had occurred during the period of the MCI and the NMC proves to be a reasonable response to the growing necessity for talented professionals in the field, covering most, if not all barriers and ensuring a holistic approach to learning for all backgrounds
