The Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2018, has been introduced by the government in Lok Sabha that intends to supersede the Medical Council of India and hand over its responsibilities to a Board of Governors comprising of eminent doctors (PTI report). This is part of efforts to set up an alternative regulatory mechanism for medical education and bring in transparency and quality. The bill was introduced by Union Health Minister JP Nadda, after an ordinance was passed in the month of September. The National Medical Commission Bill, 2017, seeking to replace the Medical Council of India with the National Medical Commission, was introduced in the Lok Sabha in December last year and is pending.

The bill read, “Hence, it has been decided to supersede the Medical Council of India and entrust its affairs to a Board of Governors consisting of eminent doctors for a period of one year or until the said Council is reconstituted, whichever is earlier.”

Meanwhile, the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2018, was introduced by Union Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar, aiming to establish a university in Andhra Pradesh to provide higher education and research facilities to the tribal population. According to the bill, a tribal university shall be established, to be known as the Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh. It will have its territorial jurisdiction extending to the entire state of Andhra Pradesh, in order to provide avenues of higher education and research facilities primarily for the tribal population of India.

Both the bills were introduced on Friday.