Unmindful to the wide-scale angry protests by doctors threatening to disrupt medical services across the country, the Modi government on Thursday passed the controversial bill in the Rajya Sabha to set up National Medical Commission (NMC) by repealing the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956. The move comes in the wake of allegations of corruption against the 63-year-old Medical Council of India (MCI) that regulate all aspects of medical education, profession and institutions in India. Dubbing it as one of the biggest reforms, the government argued that the new Act will ensure availability of adequate and high-quality medical professionals, adoption of the latest medical research by medical professionals, periodic assessment of medical institutions and an effective grievance redressal mechanism. Trinamool Congress member Santanu Sen, who is the national president of Indian Medical Association (IMA), the foremost body of doctors, put up strong opposition. "The elected representatives, who are doctors, and the search committee that will appoint the National Medical Association will all be central government employees.

Source: dna August 02, 2019 00:22 UTC