Cabinet Approves 6 Amendments In NMC Bill

The Union cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved the amendments to the NMC Bill.

 The Government considered the recommendations of the parliamentary Committee and made amendments to the NMC Bill.

Official amendments to National Medical Commission(NMC) Bill-

• Final MBBS examination to be held as a common exam across the country and would serve as an exit test called the National Exit Test(NEXT)On considering the demands of students that they do not have to appear in a separate exam after MBBS to get license to practice, cabinet approved that the final MBBS examination would be held as a common exit exam(NEXT) throughout the country.

• Provision of Bridge course for AYUSH practitioners to practice modern medicine removedThe provision dealing with bridge course for AYUSH practitioners has been removed and left to the State Governments to take necessary measures to promote primary health care in rural areas

• Fee regulation for 50% seats in private medical institutions and deemed universitiesCabinet has clarified that the fee regulation in private medical institutions and deemed universities has been increased from 40% to 50%, that includes all the other charges taken by the colleges.

• Number of nominees from states and UTs in NMC increased from 3 to 6In response to the demands from States and UTs to increase their representation in the NMC, cabinet has increased their nominees from 3 to 6, NMC will have 25 members out of which 21 will be doctors

• Monetary penalty for a medical college non-compliant with the norms replaced with provision for different penalty optionsAfter the discussion with the stakeholders, cabinet decided to replace the high monetary penalty with the warning, reasonable monetary penalty and stoppage of admission leading up to withdrawal of recognition of a medical college non-compliant with the norms.

• Stringent punishment for unqualified medical practitioners or quacksIn order to maintain the quality and safety of health care being made available to the citizens, cabinet decided to impose severe punishment such as an imprisonment of up to one year along with a fine extending up to Rs. 5 lakhs

Source: Press Information Bureau, Government of India