Cabinet Note Circulated for Approval of National Medical Commission Bill 2016 to Replace MCI

Updated On: February 23, 2017 12:25 pm IST

The Health Ministry has circulated a cabinet note on the draft of the proposed National Medical Commission Bill 2016 that proposes to revamp the Medical Council of India (MCI).

Cabinet Note Circulated for Approval of National Medical Commission Bill 2016 to Replace MCI

The Health Ministry recently circulated a cabinet note on the draft of the proposed National Medical Commission Bill 2016 that proposes to revamp the MCI or Medical Council of India.

An expert committee was appointed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, based on the recommendations of Niti Aayog last year. The draft bill proposes to establish a commission in place of MCI. Additionally, it aims to reform the medical education in the country, which has been plagued by corruption, nepotism and unethical practices.

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Expert committee appointed by Prime Minister consisted of the following members:

Arvind Panagariya - Vice-Chairman Niti Aayog
P K Mishra, Prime Minister's additional principal secretary
Amitabh Kant, Niti Aayog CEO
Union Health Secretary

A senior official of the health ministry said that they are awaiting comments from various ministries. The draft has been approved in principal. They hope to take it further for approval of the cabinet. As a part of the cleansing process of medical education, the government has introduced the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test or (NEET) for both the postgraduate and undergraduate medical and dental admissions.

After the approval of the draft by the cabinet and subsequently by the Parliament, it will replace the IMC Act or Indian Medical Council Act 1956 and will create a new commission as the main regulatory body for country's medical education.

Structure of the proposed commission:

A Chairperson
9 ex-officio members
10 part-time members

The members will be selected, rather than elected. Right now, MCI members are elected. The bill also proposes a Medical Advisory Council (MAC) having members both from states and union territories.

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Importantly, 92^nd health parliamentary committee had also raised deep concerns about the way MCI functions and urged the government to reform medical education sector.