- The National Medical Commission Bill, 2019 was launched by the Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr Harsh Vardhan in Lok Sabha on July 22, 2019. The Bill seeks to repeal the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 and provide for a medical education system which one ensuring: (i) accessibility of enough and high-end medical professionals, (ii) acceptance of the latest medical review by medical expert, (iii) periodic assessment of medical institutions, and (iv) an effective grievance redressal mechanism. Key options of the Bill include:
- Constitution of the National Medical Commission: The Bill units up the National Medical Commission (NMC) within three years of the passage of the Bill, state governments will set up State Medical Councils on the state level. The NMC will have of 25 members, appointed by the central government. A research committee will advise names to the central government for the post of Chairperson, and the part-time members. The Search Committee will consist of seven members including the Cabinet Secretary and 5 specialists nominated by the central government (of which three may have expertise within the medical field).
- Members of the NMC will include: (i) the Chairperson (must be a medical practitioner), (ii) Presidents of the Under-Graduate and Post-Graduate Medical Education Boards, (iii) the Director-General of Health Services, Directorate General of Health Services, (iv) the Director Basic, Indian Council of Medical Research, and (v) 5 members (part-time) to be elected by the registered medical practitioners from amongst themselves from states and union territories for an interval of two years.
- Capabilities of the National Medical Commission: Features of the NMC include: (i) framing insurance policies for regulating medical establishments and medical professionals, (ii) assessing the necessities of healthcare-associated human sources and infrastructure, (iii) making certain compliance by the State Medical Councils of the rules made beneath the Invoice, (iv) framing tips for the willpower of charges for as much as 50% of the seats in non-public medical institutions and deemed universities that are regulated under the Bill.
- Medical Advisory Council: According to Bill, the central government will make a Medical Advisory Council. The council will be the big platform by which the states/union territories can put away their views and though early than the NMC. Additional, the Council will advise the NMC on measures to find out and keep minimal requirements of medical education.
- Autonomous boards: The Bill sets up independent boards under the control of the NMC. Each and every independent board will include a President and four members, selected by the central government. These boards are: (i) the Under-Graduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) and the Post-Graduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB): These Boards will be liable for maintaining standards, curriculum, guidelines, and granting recognition to medical qualifications on the undergraduate and post-graduate levels respectively. (ii) The Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB): MARB may have the power to charge money penalty on medical institutions which fail to take care of the minimum standards as established by the UGMEB and PGMEB. The MARB will also give permission for establishing a new medical college, starting any postgraduate course, or increasing the number of seats. (iii) The principles and Medical Registration Board: This Board will hold a National Register of all licensed medical practitioners, and control professional guide. Only those included in the Register will likely be allowed to follow drugs. The Board can even keep a separate National Register for neighbourhood well-being providers.
- A Neighbourhood health provider: Under the Bill, the NMC could grant a limited license to certain mid-level practitioners related to the modern medical profession to follow medicine. These mid-level practitioners could prescribe specified medicines in major and preventive healthcare. In some other circumstances, these practitioners could solely prescribe medicines beneath the supervision of a registered medical practitioner.
- Entrance examinations: There will likely be a uniform National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for admission to under-graduate and post-graduate super-speciality medical education in all medical institutions regulated under the Bill. The NMC will specify the manner of conducting frequent counselling for admission in all such medical institutions.
- The Bill proposes a common final 12 months undergraduate examination referred to as the National Exit Take a look at for the students graduating from medical institutions to acquire the license for the practice. This test can even function the premise for admission into post-graduate programs at medical institutions under this Bill.
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