What is the issue?
- The “National Medical Commission” (NMC) bill was piloted for establishing NMC as the primary medical education regulator in the country.
- While multiple clauses in the bill faced opposition, the government has now made important changes to the bill.
What is the NMC bill?
- Government intends to replace current medical education regulator “Medical Council of India” (MCI) with “National Medical Commission” (NMC).
- While this the first major reform in medical education since 1956, there was considerable opposition to some of the structural changes proposed.
- Subsequently, a parliamentary standing committee had suggested about a dozen changes to the bill.
- The union cabinet has present made 6 changes that will address the most contentious issue in the bill.
What were the changes ushered in?
- The amendments - The exit exam for doctors that was in the initial draft has now been merged with the final year MBBS exam.
- The bridge course to enable traditional medical practitioners (AYUSH doctors) to practice Allopathic medicine has now been axed.
- But interestingly, the current proposal has delegated the freedom for implementing an AYUSH bridge course to the states if they desire to.
- State representation in the NMC was increased from 3 part-time members to 6, while the parliamentary committee had recommendation for 10.
- Retained clauses - While there were calls for reducing government control over the NMC, the amendments haven’t much in this regard.
- Appointments to NMC will be made by a search committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary, which strongly curtails the body’s independence.
- The bill still retains the central government as the appellate body for those aggrieved by NMC decisions in contrast to the recommendation for constituting an independent authority.
- Also, the clamour for raising the proportion of “fee regulated seats” in private colleges from 40% to 50% hasn’t been approved.
- Additionally, the no strings attached “fee structure” for unregulated seats could make medical education too costly even for the middle classes.
How does the future look?
- Despite the deficiencies, the legislation is promising and will mark the beginning of a new era for medical education in India.
- Design appropriate sub-rules for implementing the law will also be a challenge due to the vast differences in the medical sector between states.
- It would be logistically difficult to conduct a common final year MBBS exam as it has to be a comprehensive test rather than a mere multiple choice paper.
- Lawmakers will have to tackle this gigantic task in a slow and phased manner in order to ensure quality and also enhance number of doctors.
- The coming days may see more protests against the Bill, perhaps delaying its passage and prompting further discussion.
Source: The Hindu
