Government brings ordinance to make up for NMC Bill that is pending in Parliament since last year
Medical Council of India is history.
The apex medical education regulator has been superseded by a board of governors constituted by the government.
President Ramnath Kovind on Wednesday gave his assent to the Indian Medical Council (amendment) ordinance.
The BoG members are Niti Ayog member Dr V K Paul, secretary health research Dr Balram Bharagava, AIIMS director Dr Randeep Guleria, AIIMS professor Dr Nikhil Tandon, Dr Jagat Ram PGI Chandigarh, DGHS Dr S Venkatesh and NIMHANS director Dr B N Gangadhar.
The Ministry after examining the recommendations obtained approval of the Cabinet on 28.03.2018 for moving official amendments. Thereafter, the Bill is pending in the Lok Sabha.
Explaining the need for the ordinance a government source said: “…when the Supreme Court mandated Oversight Committee is unable to function due to non-cooperation of MCI and the NMC Bill is pending in Parliament and its passage is likely to take some time, certain immediate steps are required to be taken. Accordingly, an ordinance to supersede the MCI has been promulgated and the powers of the council have been vested in a Board of Governors (BoG). The BoG will continue to perform till a Council is constituted as per the provision of the Act in one year time. It may be recalled that a Board of Governors was also appointed in 2010.”
Based on the 92nd Report of March, 2016, of the Department related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health & Family Welfare and recommendations of a Group of Experts under late Professor Ranjit Roy Chaudhary, the Government introduced the National Medical Commission Bill, 2017 in the Lok Sabha in December last year.
The Bill provides for simplification of procedures and is expected to spur rapid growth in the number of UG and PG seats in the country besides enhancing the governance and quality of medical education.
The NMC Bill provides for distribution of functions among four autonomous boards whose members would be persons of proven ability selected through a transparent process.
The Bill was taken up for consideration on 02.01.2018 and was referred to Department related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health & Family Welfare for examination. The Parliamentary Standing Committee presented its 109th Report on the Bill to the House on 20.03.2018.
The Ministry after examining the recommendations obtained approval of the Cabinet on 28.03.2018 for moving official amendments. Thereafter, the Bill is pending in the Lok Sabha.
