2019 – Posted in: Blog, Daily News

NATIONAL MEDICAL COMMISSION (NMC) BILL, 2019

For: Mains

Topics covered: National Medical Commission Bill 2019, Why Medical Council of India being replaced?

News Flash

Tamil Nadu government opposed the provision in the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill proposing a common final-year MBBS exam, to be known as National Exit Test (NEXT), for admission to post-graduate medical courses.

State government favoured NEXT only for candidates who completed their undergraduate medical courses in foreign countries.
The state government said the provisions in the Bill went against the federal principles and rights of States.

Background

Last week, the cabinet approved these proposals as a part of the National Medical Commission Bill.
If enacted, the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 would be repealed.
The current Medical Council of India would be replaced by a National Medical Commission.

What

In a bid to streamline medical education in the country, the government plans to convert the final year examination of the MBBS course into a licentiate examination, which will also be used for entrance into postgraduate medical courses, and act as a screening test for foreign medical graduates. It will be called the National Exit Test (NEXT).

National Medical Commission

The Commission will have four autonomous boards:

Undergraduate Medical Education Board
Post-Graduate Medical Education Board
Medical Assessment and Rating Board
Ethics and Medical Registration Board.

It will also be responsible for regulating fees and all other charges for half the seats in private medical colleges and deemed universities.

Way Ahead

The Bill proposes to unify all entrance procedures for medical courses.

National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill

Once the NMC Bill is enacted, the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, will stand repealed.
The existing Act provides for the Medical Council of India (MCI), the medical education regulator in India.

Why is MCI being replaced?

Medical Council of India (MCI), when tested on producing competent doctors, ensure adherence to quality standards, etc., has repeatedly been found short of fulfilling its mandated responsibilities.
The quality of medical education is at its lowest ebb.
The current model of medical education is not producing the right type of health professionals that meet the basic health needs of the country because medical education and curricula are not integrated with the needs of our health system
Many of the products coming out of medical colleges are ill-prepared to serve in poor resource settings like Primary Health Centre and even at the district level
Medical graduates lack competence in performing basic health care tasks like conducting normal deliveries
Instances of unethical practice continue to grow due to which respect for the profession has dwindled.

How will the proposed National Medical Commission function?

The NMC Bill provides for the constitution of a 25-member NMC selected by a search committee, headed by the Cabinet Secretary, to replace the MCI.
The Bill provides for just one medical entrance test across the country, single exit exam.
National Exit Test (NEXT) is the final MBBS exam, which will work as a licentiate examination, a screening test for foreign medical graduates, and an entrance test for admission in postgraduate programmes.
The Bill proposes to regulate the fees and other charges of 50 percent of the total seats in private medical colleges and deemed universities.
A medical advisory council will advise and make recommendations to the NMC.
The council will include one member representing each state and Union Territory (vice-chancellors in both cases), chairman of the University Grants Commission, and the director of the National Accreditation and Assessment Council.
Four boards — dealing with undergraduate and postgraduate medical education, medical assessment and rating board, and the ethics and medical registration board — will regulate the sector.
The Bill marks a radical change in regulatory philosophy.

such as:

Under the NMC regime, medical colleges will need permission only once — for establishment and recognition. There will be no need for annual renewal, and colleges would be free to increase the number of seats on their own, subject to the present cap of 250.

They would also be able to start postgraduate courses on their own. Fines for violations, however, are steep — 1.5 times to 10 times the total annual fee charged.

Source: Indian Express

You can follow us on LinkedIn and on Instagram (Diligent IAS) for more updates related to IAS Preparation/ Study Material, Subscribe to our Facebook Page and Youtube Channel- Diligent IAS