Medical Council of India

Medical Council of India (MCI) is a statutory body for establishing uniform and high standards of medical education in India. It was first established in 1934 under the Indian Medical Council Act, 1933. As per recommendation given by NITI Aayog, the Government took measures to replace MCI with National Medical Commission (NMC) in 2019.

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Medical Council of India – UPSC Notes:- Download PDF Here

Latest News on Medical Council of India (MCI)

1. The National Medical Commission (NMC) has replaced the Medical Council of India (MCI), as per the gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
   • The government dissolved the MCI in 2018 and replaced it with a Board of Governors (BoG) to perform the functions of the Medical Council of India, which was chaired by a member of NITI Aayog. Know more about National Institutions for transforming India – Niti Aayog on the linked page. On the grounds that once the National Medical Commission becomes operational, the Board of Governors will be dissolved.
   • Now, the IMC Act, 1956 stands repealed after the gazette notification and has been replaced by the National Medical Commission Act that came into existence on 8^th August 2019. Now,  the NMC will function as the country’s top regulator of medical education.
2. In April 2020, due to COVID-19 pandemic, Medical Council of India permitted the practice through telemedicine by its registered medical practitioners.
3. The practice of Telemedicine involves remote diagnosis and treatment of patients through telecommunications such as video, phone and apps.

National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill 2019

National Medical Commission Bill, 2019 was introduced by the Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr Harsha Vardhan in Lok Sabha on July 22nd 2019. The Bill seeks to repeal the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956. The Bill was passed in Lok Sabha on July 29, 2019. It was passed in Rajya Sabha in August 2019. National Medical Commission Act 2019 provides for the setting up of the National Medical Commission (NMC), for development and regulation of all aspects of medical education, profession and institutions. 

The objective of introducing the Bill are listed below

1. To make sure that there are sufficient highly qualified medical professionals.
2. To give an impetus to Grievance Redressal Mechanisms.
3. Medical Institutions will be evaluated to make sure standards do not deteriorate.
4. To make sure that medical professionals give importance to medical research and adopt the latest developments in the field of medical science.

National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill 2019 – Key Features

Some of the important features of National Medical Commission 2019 are mentioned below.

Constitution of National Medical Commission

1. The Bill sets up the National Medical Commission (NMC). 
2. As per the National Medical Commission Bill, State Governments need to set up State Medical Councils.

National Medical Commission (NMC) – Members

1. The National Medical Commission will consist of 25 members.
2. NMC will include Chairperson, Presidents of Post Graduate Medical Education Boards and Undergraduate Education Boards.
3. Director General of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
4. Director General of Health Services.

A list of 25 members were finalised by the Ministry of Health in October 2019. The names were selected through a draw of lots from nominations sent by the State Governments and Medical Councils, and Union Territories.

National Medical Commission (NMC) – Boards

The National Medical Commission will have 4 Boards. The 4 Boards are listed below 

1. Under-Graduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB)
2. Post-Graduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB)
3. Medical Assessment and Rating Board
4. Ethics and Medical Registration Board.

National Medical Council (NMC) – Functions

1. Medical institutions and Medical Professionals will be regulated.
2. State Medical Councils will have to comply with the guidelines issued by the council.
3. To handle the exorbitant fees charged in private institutions, this Act provides authority to the Council to fix the fees for 50% of the seats in private medical colleges including deemed universities.
4. Assess the requirements of healthcare-related infrastructure and human resources.

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Medical Advisory Council

1. Under the National Medical Commission Bill 2019, the Central Government will constitute a Medical Advisory Council (MAC).
2. The Council will advise the NMC on measures to determine and maintain standards of medical education.

National Exit Test (NEXT)

1. As per the NMC Act, it has proposed a common final year MBBS exam which will be known as National Exit Test (NEXT). 
2. NEXT results would be used for obtaining a license to practice and will also be used for admissions to Post – Graduate Medical Courses. 
3. It would also act as an entrance test for medical graduates from other nations.

Ranking of Medical Colleges

1. Medical Colleges would be ranked by the Medical Assessment and Rating Board of the National Medical Commission. 
2. Ranking systems would help students to choose their institutes.
3. It would also help in the transparent admission process.

Medical Council of India – Latest Updates

1. “In compatibility of the arrangements of sub-segment (1) of segment 60 of the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 is thus revoked with impact from the 25th day of September 2020. The Board of Governors selected under segment 3A of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 in supersession of the Medical Council of India established under sub-segment (1) of area 3 of the said Act shall stand broke down,” the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) notice read.
2. Dr Suresh Chandra Sharma, resigned HoD, ENT, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, has been designated as the Chairman of the NMC for a time of three years, said the journal warning.
3. Recently the Medical Council of India (MCI) had informed that it does not recognize online education.
4. Medical Council of India before facing its replacement had communicated a very important decision before the Madras High Court of setting the uniform policy for bond service. The policy was communicated in the matter before the Madras HC where 208 students AIQ quota had challenged the bond service implemented by the state of Tamil Nadu.

Medical Council of India – UPSC Notes:- Download PDF Here

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