National Medical Commission

The NITI Aayog had recommended the replacement of Medical Council of India (MCI) with National Medical Commission (NMC). The decision was approved by most states and after its approval by the Prime Minister and NMC bill was passed by parliament and approved by President on 8 August 2019.[4][5][6]

National Medical Commission ordinance was brought in to replace Medical Council of India in early 2019 through an ordinance issued in January, 2019 by the President of India.

The Supreme Court had allowed the Central Government to replace the medical council and with the help of five specialized doctors monitor the medical education system in India, from July 2017.[7]

The planning commission has recommended the replacement of Medical Council of India (MCI) with National Medical Commission (NMC). The decision has been approved by most states and after its approval by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi it was to be proposed as final bill in the parliamentary sessions by the Minister of health and family welfare Dr. Harsh Vardhan.[8] It was passed by both houses of Parliament in 2019.[9][10][11][12] President of India gives his nod to National Medical Commission Bill 2019 on 8 August 2019 and it became a law.[2][4]

Main Functions of the NMC include:

• Laying down policies for regulating medical institutions and medical professionals.
• Assessing the requirements of human resources and infrastructure in healthcare and medicines.
• Ensuring compliance by the State Medical Councils with the regulations made under the Bill.
• Framing guidelines for determination of fee for up to 50% of the seats in the private medical institutions.
• The NMC will make guidelines for a new cadre of non-MBBS mid-level health service providers such as nurse practitioners and pharmacists with limited rights to prescribe Medicines.
• Appellate powers.
• Common entrance examination.

[13]

The commission consists of four autonomous boards:

• Under-Graduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB),
• Post-Graduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB),
• Medical Assessment and Rating Board and
• Ethics and Medical Registration Board

The NMC will consist of 33 members, including:

a) a Chairperson (medical professionals only)

b) 10 ex officio Members:

• The President of the Under-Graduate Medical Education Board.
• The President of the Post-Graduate Medical Education Board.
• The President of the Medical Assessment and Rating Board.
• The President of the Ethics and Medical Registration Board.
• The Director General of Health Services, Directorate General of Health Services, New Delhi.
• The Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research.
• Director of any of the All India Institutes of Medical Sciences.
• Two persons from amongst the Directors of Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Tata Memorial Hospital, North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences, and All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health.
• One person to represent the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

c) 22 Part-time Members:

• Three Members appointed from amongst persons who have special knowledge and professional experience in such areas including management, law, medical ethics, health research, consumer or patient rights advocacy, science and technology and economics.
• Ten members appointed on rotational basis from amongst the nominees of the states/union territories in the Medical Advisory Council.
• Nine members appointed from amongst the nominees of the States and Union territories in the Medical Advisory Council.[14]

Of these at least 60% of the members must be medical practitioners.

• Official website
• NMC Act 2019