Historic reform in Medical Education: National Medical Commission (NMC) constituted
Context: Medical Council of India (MCI) stands abolished
- Historic reform in the field of medical education has been effected by the Union Government with the constitution of the National Medical Commission (NMC), along with four Autonomous Boards.
- With this, the decades old institution of the Medical Council of India (MCI) stands abolished.
- Along with NMC, the four Autonomous Boards of UG and PG Medical Education Boards, Medical Assessment and Rating Board, and Ethics and Medical Registration Board have also been constituted to help the NMC in day to day functioning.
- This historic reform will steer medical education towards a transparent, qualitative and accountable system.
- The basic change that has happened is that the Regulator is now 'selected' on merits, as opposed to an 'elected' Regulator.
- Men and Women with impeccable integrity, professionalism, experience and stature have been now placed at the helm to steer the medical education reforms further.
About National Medical Commission (NMC)
- It is an Indian regulatory body of 33 members which regulates medical education and medical professionals. It replaced the Medical Council of India on 25 September 2020.
- The Commission grants recognition of medical qualifications, gives accreditation to medical schools, grants registration to medical practitioners, and monitors medical practice and assess the medical infrastructure in India.
- The NITI Aayog had recommended the replacement of Medical Council of India (MCI) with National Medical Commission (NMC).
Main Functions of the NMC include:
- Conduct of NExT(National Exit Test), a common licence exam for Foreign medical graduate and Indian Medical graduate to practice medicine and admission to postgraduate broad-speciality seats
- Laying down policies for regulating medical institutions and medical professionals.
- Assessing the requirements of human resources and infrastructure in healthcare.
- Ensuring compliance by the State Medical Councils with the regulations made under the Bill.
- Framing guidelines for determination of fee for up to 50% of the seats in the private medical institutions.
- The NMC will make guidelines for a new cadre of non-MBBS mid-level health service providers such as pharmacists with limited rights to prescribe Medicines.
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