National Medical Council Act offers little change, brings in a host of new problems | The Indian Express

National Medical Council Act offers little change, brings in a host of new problems | The Indian Express

Written by Shah Alam Khan |Updated: August 20, 2019 7:53:46 am

The writer is professor, department of orthopaedics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences. The views expressed are personal.

National Medical Council Act offers little change, brings in a host of new problems

The NMC Act, in the garb of change, has some provisions which are far more problematic than those in the amended MCI Act. The constitution of the medical commission as proposed in the Act has issues of subjugating federalism at multiple levels.

The constitution of the medical commission as proposed in the Act has issues of subjugating federalism at multiple levels. (File Photo)

The National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill 2019 was passed by the Lok Sabha on July 29 and the Rajya Sabha on August 1. Reading this important Act, which will decide the future course of medical education and medical ethics in this country, one gets a feeling that it offers little when compared to the Indian Medical Council Act 1956 (which saw multiple amendments), that led to the formation of the Medical Council of India (MCI), a body which was accused of rampant corruption. The NMC Act, in the garb of change, has some provisions which are far more problematic than those in the amended MCI Act.