National Commission for Homoeopathy Medicine Bill

The Rajya Sabha recently passed the National Commission for Homoeopathy Medicine Bill, 2019. It also passed the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Bill, 2019.

National Commission for Homoeopathy

The bill seeks to establish a National Commission for Homoeopathy to replace the Central Council for Homoeopathy. There are to be 3 autonomous bodies under the NCH:

• Board of Assessment and Rating: will grant permissions to and assess the homoeopathy educational institutions.
• Homoeopathy Education Board: will be concerned with overall regulation of education in homoeopathy.
• Board of Ethics and Registration of Practitioners of Homoeopathy: will deal with ethical issues in the field and maintain a national register.

NCH Composition

The NCH will have 20 members including:

• Chairperson
• President of the Homoeopathy Education Board
• President of the Medical Assessment and Rating Board for Homoeopathy
• Director General, National Institute of Homoeopathy
• Advisor or Joint Secretary in-charge of Homoeopathy, Ministry of AYUSH
• 4 part time members- elected from registered practitioners

Advisory Council for Homoeopathy

The bill proposes setting up of an Advisory Council for Homoeopathy. This is to serve as the ‘primary platform’ for the states and UTs to submit their views and concerns to the centre. It will serve an advisory role- on measures to establish and maintain the standards in Homoeopathy education.

Entrance Exams

The 2019 bill proposed a National Eligibility cum Entrance Test and Post Graduate National Entrance Test for admission to under-graduate and post-graduate Homoeopathy courses. It also proposes a common exit exam (National Exit Test) for obtaining license to practice.