National Medical Commission Bill: Things to know

The Cabinet approved the draft National Medical Commission Bill, 2017, which seeks to replace the existing medical education regulator Medical Council of India (MCI) with a new body to ensure transparency.

Meanwhile, the Indian Medical Association (IMA), the largest body of doctors in India, demanded the rollback of National Medical Commission, claiming it will damage the medical profession.

1. Under the National Medical Commission (NMC), the government can dictate guidelines for fees up to 40 percent of seats in private medical colleges. This aims to give students relief from the excessive fees charged by the colleges.

2. The draft bill proposes a common entrance exam and licentiate (exit) exam which all medical graduates will have to clear to get practicing licences. For MBBS, students have to clear NEET, and before they step into practice, they must pass the exit exam.

3. The bill provides for the constitution of four autonomous boards entrusted with conducting undergraduate and postgraduate education, assessment and accreditation of medical institutions and registration of practitioners under the National Medical Commission (NMC).

4. As per the provisions of the draft bill, no permission would be needed to add new seats or to start post-graduate courses

5. The new body will have eminent doctors and experts from related fields to suggest the direction that should be given to medical education in the country so as to ensure that the quality of education is at par with global standards. But, the regulators in the new body will be selected and will not be elected.