Govt plans to re-introduce NMC Bill

New Delhi, June 10

In the very first session of the new Lok Sabha starting June 17, the Union Government plans to reintroduce a key Bill that aims to usher in mega reforms in the medical education sector.

The National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill, which was introduced in December, 2017, lapsed with the dissolution of the 16th Lok Sabha.

Following the formation of a new government after the General Election, the Union Health Ministry would have to again initiate the legislative process, and for that a fresh draft Bill would be put before the Cabinet soon, official sources said.   

“The draft NMC Bill is currently awaiting approval from the Law Ministry,” an official said. After its introduction in the Lower House of parliament in 2017, the Bill, which aimed at replacing the Medical Council of India Act, 1956, and included the contentious provision of a “bridge course” to allow practitioners of alternative medicines to pursue allopathy, was referred to a department-related parliamentary standing committee following massive protests from the medical fraternity.

The panel submitted its recommendations in March, 2018, following which the Health Ministry omitted the contentious provision and also made some others changes as suggested by the committee before moving the official amendments in the Lok Sabha.

“Now the NMC Bill has been redrafted and the amendments, as suggested by the parliamentary panel, have been incorporated. The draft Bill would be sent to the Cabinet soon,” the official said. — PTI

Aiming at reforms in medical sector

 The National Medical Commission Bill, which was introduced in December 2017, lapsed with the dissolution of the 16th Lok Sabha. Some provisions of the NMC Bill, including the “bridge course” were strongly opposed by health bodies, including the Indian Medical Association