NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR INDIAN SYSTEMS OF MEDICINE (NCIM) BILL, 2018

Salient features:

• It proposes to set up a National Commission for Indian Medicine (NCIM) to replace the existing regulator Central Council for Indian Medicine (CCIM).
  
  
• Under NCIM, four autonomous boards will be setup.
  • Board of Ayurveda: It will be responsible for conducting overall education of Ayurveda.
    
    
  • Board of Unaini, Siddha and Sowarigpa: It will be responsible for conducting examinations and overall education of Unani, Siddha & Sowarigpa
    
    
  • Board of assessment and rating: It will assess and grant permission to educational institutions of Indian systems of Medicine.
    
    
  • Board of ethics and registration of practitioners: It will maintain National Register and ethical issues relating to practice of Indian systems of medicine.
    
    
  
  
  
• Examinations:
  • It also proposes a common entrance exam and an exit exam, which all graduates will have to clear to get practicing licenses.
    
    
  • Further, a teacher's eligibility test has been proposed in the Bill to assess the standard of teachers before appointment and promotions.
    
    
  
  
  

Benefits:

• It aims to reform the medical education of Indian medicine sector in lines with the National Medical Commission proposed for setting up for Allopathy system of medicine.
  
  
• The proposed regulatory structure will enable transparency and accountability for protecting the interest of the general public.
  
  
• The NCIM will promote availability of affordable healthcare services in all parts of the country.