‘NMC, autonomous boards to come up within six months’
11.08.2019
The National Medical Commission will be constituted within six months, kick-starting the process of reforms to eliminate corruption from medical education, health minister Harsh Vardhan, who nurtures a dream of “disease-free India”, tells Sushmi Dey
• What is your vision for enforcement of the legislation touted as a reform in the medical education sector?
We will be constituting the National Medical Commission, the Medical Advisory Council and the four autonomous boards in a very early time frame but in no case later than six months from now.
• What are the features of the bill that you think will support medical reforms and eliminate corruption?
MCI was a body comprising of about 130 members and did not keep pace with modern times. The NMC would comprise of 33 members including members from the premier institutions of the country. This will bring accountability, transparency and quality in the governance of medical education. The division of functions between the four boards would lead to greater efficiency. NEXT (National Exit Test) would enable NMC to move away from a system of repeated inspection of infrastructure. The reduction in licence raj would manifest in ease of business and elimination of corrupt practices. NEET and common counselling would extend to all medical institutions in the country and would eliminate any kind of capitation fee in admission to medical colleges.
• The medical fraternity is upset about the legislation. How will you assure them?
I would like to assure through you the medical fraternity that the new system will improve access to quality and affordable education and ensure availability of adequate and qualified medical professionals in all parts of the country. It would enforce high ethical standards, provide an effective grievance redressal mechanism and institute processes that are flexible to adapt to changing needs with time. NEXT is designed to ensure uniform standards of medical education in India and reduce the number of exams. Medical institutions would be forced to improve the standards since performance in NEXT would determine the rating of the institution to a large extent. In case of failing in NEXT, a student would be able to reappear for registration purpose and for improving rank for PG admission.
• The move to allow community health providers to prescribe allopathy medicines in a limited way has given rise to many concerns.
The commission, after consultation with the stakeholders, would decide the qualifying criteria for grant of limited license to CHPs. A misconception is being spread that the provision for community health providers is meant to legalize quacks working in India. On the contrary, the NMC bill proposes enhanced punishment for quacks with imprisonment up to one year and fine up to ₹5 lakhs.
• There are concerns that the cap on fees has actually been reduced from 85% to 50% of the seats through this legislation.
There was no provision in the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 for regulation of fee. At present the fee is being regulated by the Committees constituted by the respective state governments. Nearly 50% of the total MBBS seats in India are in government colleges, which have nominal fees. Of the remaining seats, 50% would be regulated by NMC at the central level. This means that almost 75% of total seats in the country would be available at reasonable fees. For the remaining seats, states may regulate the fee.
• Several states have raised concerns that not all medical colleges are at par to appear for a uniform exam.
The Medical Assessment and Rating Board would grant permission to medical colleges based on their compliance with the minimum standards as prescribed by the UG Board and maintain oversight at all times.
OPTIMISTIC: Union health minister Harsh Vardhan
The National Medical Commission will be constituted within six months, kick-starting the process of reforms to eliminate corruption from medical education, health minister Harsh Vardhan, who nurtures a dream of “disease-free India”, tells Sushmi Dey
• What is your vision for enforcement of the legislation touted as a reform in the medical education sector?
We will be constituting the National Medical Commission, the Medical Advisory Council and the four autonomous boards in a very early time frame but in no case later than six months from now.
• What are the features of the bill that you think will support medical reforms and eliminate corruption?
MCI was a body comprising of about 130 members and did not keep pace with modern times. The NMC would comprise of 33 members including members from the premier institutions of the country. This will bring accountability, transparency and quality in the governance of medical education. The division of functions between the four boards would lead to greater efficiency. NEXT (National Exit Test) would enable NMC to move away from a system of repeated inspection of infrastructure. The reduction in licence raj would manifest in ease of business and elimination of corrupt practices. NEET and common counselling would extend to all medical institutions in the country and would eliminate any kind of capitation fee in admission to medical colleges.
• The medical fraternity is upset about the legislation. How will you assure them?
I would like to assure through you the medical fraternity that the new system will improve access to quality and affordable education and ensure availability of adequate and qualified medical professionals in all parts of the country. It would enforce high ethical standards, provide an effective grievance redressal mechanism and institute processes that are flexible to adapt to changing needs with time. NEXT is designed to ensure uniform standards of medical education in India and reduce the number of exams. Medical institutions would be forced to improve the standards since performance in NEXT would determine the rating of the institution to a large extent. In case of failing in NEXT, a student would be able to reappear for registration purpose and for improving rank for PG admission.
• The move to allow community health providers to prescribe allopathy medicines in a limited way has given rise to many concerns.
The commission, after consultation with the stakeholders, would decide the qualifying criteria for grant of limited license to CHPs. A misconception is being spread that the provision for community health providers is meant to legalize quacks working in India. On the contrary, the NMC bill proposes enhanced punishment for quacks with imprisonment up to one year and fine up to ₹5 lakhs.
• There are concerns that the cap on fees has actually been reduced from 85% to 50% of the seats through this legislation.
There was no provision in the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 for regulation of fee. At present the fee is being regulated by the Committees constituted by the respective state governments. Nearly 50% of the total MBBS seats in India are in government colleges, which have nominal fees. Of the remaining seats, 50% would be regulated by NMC at the central level. This means that almost 75% of total seats in the country would be available at reasonable fees. For the remaining seats, states may regulate the fee.
• Several states have raised concerns that not all medical colleges are at par to appear for a uniform exam.
The Medical Assessment and Rating Board would grant permission to medical colleges based on their compliance with the minimum standards as prescribed by the UG Board and maintain oversight at all times.
OPTIMISTIC: Union health minister Harsh Vardhan
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