National Medical Commission Bill

July 22, 2019 July 22, 2019

The Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare (MHFW) has introduced the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill in the lower house of the Indian parliament.

What the NMC plans to do?

The NMC seeks to reform the healthcare sector in the country.
It plans to replace the 63-year old Medical Council of India (MCI). There have been multiple allegations of corruption against the MCI including in the way in which the MCI regulated the medical colleges under it.
The NMC aims to make national standards in medical education uniform by proposing a new final year MBBS exam which will then be treated as an entrance test for post-graduation courses. This exam will be called the National Exit Test (NEXT).
A screening test for students who have studied medicine in foreign countries is also proposed.
The NMC also seeks to cap the fees on 50% of seats in MBBS and PG colleges in the country.
All medical colleges will have to adhere to the standards set by the NMC. However, once they conform to the established standards and are permitted to operate, they wouldn’t have to worry about annual renewals.