Why it is in news?

• The Bill in its present form was unacceptable and the IMA action committee has declared a “black day” on January 2.

Provisns Of the Bill

• The National Medical Commission Bill aims to reform the medical education sector, which has been under scrutiny for corruption and unethical practices.
• The legislation seeks to replace the Medical Council of India, which regulates the medical education sector in the country.
• The legislation aims to reform the medical education sector, which has been under scrutiny for corruption and unethical practices
• It proposes setting up four autonomous boards to oversee undergraduate and post-graduate courses, assess and accredit medical institutes and register practitioners under the National Medical Commission.
• The government will nominate the chairperson and members of the commission, whereas a committee headed by the Cabinet secretary will choose the members of the board, according to the bill.
•  The panel will include five elected members and 12 ex-officio ones.
• The National Medical Commission Bill also proposes a common entrance exam and licentiate exams that all medical graduates will have to clear for practicing licences. Contrary to the rules in place currently, the bill does away with the need for permission from the commission to add new seats or introduce new post-graduate courses.

Criticisms of the bill

According to  MCI

1. “This Bill is anti-poor, anti-people, non-representative, undemocratic and anti-federal in character,”
2. There are hidden agendas in the proposed Bill, According to Section 26(1)(b) of the Bill, permission to start medical colleges/PG/superspeciality courses or increase seats in MBBS/PG/superspeciality courses will be directly granted by the Medical Assessment and Rating Board, which will have three members nominated by the central government.
3. As per Section 33(1)(d), the NMC can permit a medical professional to perform surgery or practise medicine without qualifying the National Licentiate Examination, in circumstances that may be specified in regulations. Such sweeping powers are illegal and will give scope for manipulation.
4. As per Section 55(2)(zl) of the NMC Bill, the Ethics and Medical Registration Board can maintain a separate national register that would have the names of licensed AYUSH practitioners.
5. The names of graduates of Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery and Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery are already registered with their respective councils and on taking the bridge course they would be incorporated in a separate register maintained by the NMC, resulting in dual registration with two councils, which is neither open nor permissible. 

Source: The indianexpress,TheHindu,Scroll.in