On Tuesday, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said in the Lok Sabha that the government will soon come with a National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill to usher in comprehensive reforms in the medical education sector.

He mentioned this while replying to a debate on Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2019, which was later passed by the House by voice vote.This bill provides for supersession of Medical Council of India for a period of two years with effect from September 26, 2018 and will replace an Ordinance broadcasted on February 21.

The minister also said that the government is working on the NMC bill and will soon take it to union cabinet and then in Parliament. He said the NMC bill was introduced in December 2017, had lapsed with the dissolution of the 16th Lok Sabha.

On the Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, the Minister said that the Board of Governors (BoG) which had replaced the MCI has worked well and taken a series of necessary steps to improve medical education in the country. The BoG has also granted accreditation to more number of medical colleges and increased number of seats which ishandled by doctors of great reputation.

The Indian Medical Council or the Medical Council of India (MCI) was set up under the Medical Council Act 1956, for setting standards for medical professionals, new medical colleges and amendment of curriculum, among others.

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury who participated in the debate on the bill, opposed the Ordinance route taken by the Government to replace the Indian Medical Council by saying that it was unhealthy for democracy.

Chowdhury also said that the Ordinance was broadcasted twice by the government despite elections being around the corner. Vardhan said while introducing the Bill, that in the last two decades a perception was built that MCI has been unsuccessful in discharging its duties and that corrupt practices are common in the regulatory body.

The Cabinet on June 12 had approved the Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2019, which provides for supersession of the MCI for a period of 2 years with effect from September 26, 2018, during which the board of governors will operate it.

This move intends to ensure transparency, accountability and quality in the governance of medical education in the country. The Bill also suggests to increase the number of members in the board of Governors to 12 from the existing 7.

The Health Ministry had come across certain uninformed action by the MCI in disregard to the provision of IMC Act and regulations. Also, the oversight committee constituted by the Supreme Court to oversee the functioning of MCI had cited occasions of non-compliance of their instructions and consequently, all members tendered their resignation.

In view of these developments and to put an alternative mechanism in place of MCI and to bring transparency, accountability and quality in the governance of medical education in the country, it was decided to replace the MCI through the Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Ordinance, 2018, which was broadcasted on September 26 and delegated its affairs to a board of governors consisting of eminent doctors.

Thus, the Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2018, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 14, 2018, and passed by the House on December 31. But, the Bill could not be taken up for consideration in the Rajya Sabha.

Accordingly, it was decided to promulgate a fresh Ordinance namely the Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019, to allow the board of governors appointed in view of supersession of MCI to continue to exercise powers of MCI.

Sanjeev Kumar (YSRCP) said it was a necessity and the need of the hour by supporting the Bill. He also urged the government to simplify the norms for opening of medical colleges. He also added his view that legislation should be brought to put a check on the increasing violence on doctors.