Bill Summary

The National Medical Commission Bill, 2017

 The National Medical Commission Bill, 2017 of fees for up to 40% of the seats in the private
was introduced by the Minister of Health and medical institutions and deemed universities
Family Welfare, Mr. J. P. Nadda in Lok Sabha which are regulated as per the Bill.
on December 29, 2017. The Bill seeks to
 Medical Advisory Council: Under the Bill,
repeal the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956
the central government will constitute a
and provide for a medical education system
Medical Advisory Council. The Council will
which ensures: (i) availability of adequate and
be the primary platform through which the
high quality medical professionals, (ii)
states/union territories can put forth their views
adoption of the latest medical research by
and concerns before the NMC. Further, the
medical professionals, (iii) periodic assessment
Council will advise the NMC on measures to
of medical institutions, and (iv) an effective
enable equitable access to medical education.
grievance redressal mechanism. Key features
of the Bill include:  Autonomous boards: The Bill sets up certain
autonomous boards under the supervision of
 Constitution of the National Medical
the NMC. Each autonomous board will
Commission: The Bill sets up the National
consist of a President and two members,
Medical Commission (NMC). Within three
appointed by the central government. These
years of the passage of the Bill, state
boards are: (i) the Under-Graduate Medical
governments will establish State Medical
Education Board (UGMEB) and the Post-
Councils at the state level. The NMC will
Graduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB):
consist of 25 members, appointed by the
These Boards will be responsible for
central government. A Search Committee will
formulating standards, curriculum, guidelines,
recommend names to the central government
and granting recognition to medical
for the post of Chairperson, and the part time
qualifications at the undergraduate and post
members. These posts will have a maximum
graduate levels respectively, (ii) the Medical
term of four years. The Search Committee will
Assessment and Rating Board (MARB): The
consist of seven members including the
MARB will have the power to levy monetary
Cabinet Secretary and three experts nominated
penalties on medical institutions which fail to
by the central government (of which two will
maintain the minimum standards as laid down
have experience in the medical field).
by the UGMEB and the PGMEB. The MARB
 Members of the NMC will include: (i) the will also grant permission for establishing a
Chairperson, (ii) the President of the Under- new medical college, and (iii) the Ethics and
Graduate Medical Education Board, (iii) the Medical Registration Board: This Board will
President of the Post-Graduate Medical maintain a National Register of all licensed
Education Board, (iv) the Director General of medical practitioners, and regulate professional
Health Services, Directorate General of Health conduct. Only those included in the Register
Services, (v) the Director General, Indian will be allowed to practice medicine.
Council of Medical Research, and (vi) five
 Entrance examinations: There will be a
members (part-time) to be elected by the
uniform National Eligibility-cum-Entrance
registered medical practitioners from amongst
Test for admission to under-graduate medical
themselves from the prescribed regional
education in all medical institutions regulated
constituencies under the Bill.
by the Bill. The NMC will specify the manner
 Functions of the National Medical of conducting common counselling for
Commission: Functions of the NMC include: admission in all such medical institutions.
(i) framing policies for regulating medical
 There will be a National Licentiate
institutions and medical professionals, (ii)
Examination for the students graduating from
assessing the requirements of healthcare
medical institutions to obtain the license for
related human resources and infrastructure,
practice. The National Licentiate Examination
(iii) ensuring compliance by the State Medical
will also serve as the basis for admission into
Councils of the regulations made under the
post-graduate courses at medical institutions.
Bill, (iv) framing guidelines for determination
Nivedita Rao January 2, 2018
nivedita@prsindia.org
PRS Legislative Research  Institute for Policy Research Studies
3rd Floor, Gandharva Mahavidyalaya  212, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg  New Delhi – 110002
Tel: (011) 43434035-36, 23234801-02  www.prsindia.org
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