New Delhi| Health Live
The Union Cabinet flagged the green to the official amendments to NMC (National Medical Commission) Bill.
Need Not For Separate Test: The NMC bill contains amendments as; National Exit Test (NEXT) for the MBBS students. After the amendments MBBS student need not appear in a separate test to get the license to practice which was compulsory before the amendment. Medical students were keeping this demand for a long time. It was a double hurdle for the medical students, they need to appear in two discrete examinations to be a practitioner.
Removed Bridge Course Provision: The provision of bridge course for the AYUSH practitioners to practice modern medicine to a limited extent has removed after the strong objection from the medical fraternity. State Governments need to take necessary measures to address and promoting primary health care in rural areas.
Regulation of Fees Upto 50%: The bill has also been revised the regulation of fees to 50% seats at private medical colleges and deemed universities, earlier it was limited to 40%. It also clarified that the fee would include “all other charges” taken by the colleges.
Further, responding to demands for the state to increase their representation in the NMC, the number of nominees of States and UTs in the NMC increased to 6 form 3. The NMC will commence with 25 members of which 21 will be doctors.
The government has shown their commitment to maintaining the quality and safety of healthcare through this bill amendment. The bill advocates to act strictly against unqualified practitioners or quacks. The punishment for unlawful practices of medicine provisioned for impressment up to 1 year with a fine extending to Rs. 5 lakhs.
