NATIONAL MEDICAL COMMISSION BILL: Deteriorating Healthcare System and NMC
Healthcare system in India is deteriorating. Overpopulation and emigration of quality doctors have worsened the issue. With all hue and cry of people coming from all the country on the malpractices of medical practitioners; followed by newly introduced National Medical Commission bill, 2017(NMC BILL, 2017), it became necessary to take a dig at current medical authorities and the ideas forwarded by NMC bill, 2017.
INTRODUCTION
Minster of Health and Family Welfare, Mr Jay Prakash Nadda introduced National Medical Commission bill on December 29, 2017. The bill seeks to replace National Medical Council which has been accused of malpractices every now and then.
The aim is to provide a medical education system which ensures availability of adequate and highly qualified medical practitioners. It also aims to provide medical professionals latest medical research. It also aims to periodic assess the medical institutes all over the country and also seeks to provide an effective grieve redressal mechanism.
PROTESTS AGAINST NATIONAL MEDICAL COMMISSION BILL
Indian Medical Association(IMA) and medical students all over the country has strongly opposed the bill. Around 2.9 lakh doctors called for a 12-hour strike on 2 Jan 2017. Again on 26 March IMA marched a protest and doctors from AIMS carried out a similar one in February.
As the bill seeks to replace Indian Medical Council, IMA fears that National Medical Commission bill will make the regulatory body a government controlled one rather than democratically elected one.
The bill also wants to introduce a bridge course to allow non-allopathic medical professionals to give allopathic prescriptions if they clear a bridge course. Surprisingly enough, both allopathic and non-allopathic practitioners have opposed this move.
National Medical Commission bill also emphasises on common entrance test across the country for the entrance and one National Exit Test(NEXT) for granting the medical license. Since the college all over the country varies highly with regards to infrastructure, teaching faculties and facilities, it is unfair to have a national level common exit test. However, after removing disparities this can be a very effective check of the quality of doctors graduating.
Bill also wants to regulate 50% seats in private medical colleges on fee grounds but what happens to other 50%, the bill fails to answer. If the government wants to regulate it should regulate the whole.
Recent Developments in National Medical Commission bill
After nationwide protests and criticisms, National Medical Commission bill has been referred to Standing Committee. However, Mr J.P.Nadda insisted that bill is beneficial to the medical profession. IMA discussed the bill with the Mr Nadda and government has agreed to drop a few provisions from the bill. One of the dropped provision is National Exit Test. Another provision is the Bridge Course for Ayush practitioners. Other than these government has also decided to reconsider 50% seat regulation in private government colleges.
Conclusion
In every bad, there is something good. Even though National Medical Commission bill has some flaws, but on a positive note, the government has taken a positive step to address deteriorating healthcare system in India. It is the biggest step taken by Indian Government after 1956. While the upcoming parliament sessions will be debating on t National Medical Commission bill, one thing is certain that government will finally take some actions to improve the situation. Hope government finds the cure and not the band-aid!
Written By Ankit Raturi, University School of Law and Legal Studies
