Salient features:
- Objective of the ordinance is to enhance governance and quality of medical education.
- The ordinance dissolves the Medical Council of India (MCI) and replacing it with a seven-member Board of Governors (BoG) led by NITI Aayog Member Dr. V.K. Paul. The BoG will continue to perform till a council is constituted.
- The National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill, 2017 is still pending in parliament.
National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill, 2017
- The bill would replace the existing apex medical education regulator Medical Council of India (MCI) with a new body named National Medical Commission.
- Structure of commission: The commission will have government nominated chairman and members. A search committee under the Cabinet Secretary will select the board members. There will five elected and 12 ex-officio members in the commission.
- It provides for the constitution of Four autonomous boards under the National Medical Commission which would be entrusted with conducting undergraduate and postgraduate education, assessment and accreditation of medical institutions and registration of practitioners.
- To get practicing licences all medical graduates will have to clear a common entrance exam and licentiate exam.
- No permission would be required to add new seats or to start postgraduate courses.
- The deterrence for non-compliance with maintenance of standards is in terms of monetary penalty.
