Background.
1. Last year, a parliamentary standing committee on health and family welfare tabled a report which exposed the scam-infested Medical Council of India(MCI), the country's medical regulatory body. The report had found that the MCI had become a "club" of influential doctors who perform their roles as regulators(Approving the setting up of medical colleges and monitoring the conduct of doctors) with little care for the basic norms of governance or fear of regulation. Corruption and bribery thrived in approvals to set up medical institutions and further down the line, even in the inspection process.
The Way Out.
2. The Bill that is being introduced in Parliament tomorrow aims to replace the MCI with a new regulator, the 'National Medical Commission(NMC)' which will do away with red tapism over medical institutions and bring about transparency.
A Few Important Features.
3. A few of the important features of the Bill are as follows:-
(a) The government can dictate guidelines for fees up to 40% of the seats in private medical
colleges. This is aimed at giving students relief from the exorbitant fees charged by the
colleges.
(b) Recognised medical institutions don't need the regulator's permission to add more seats or
start PG courses.
(c) Fewer elected members to the new commission.
(d) Earlier, medical colleges required the MCI's approval for the establishment, recognition and
renewal of the yearly permission or recognition of degrees and even, increase the number of
students to be admitted. Under the new bill, the powers of the regulator have been reduced to
establishment and recognition.......less red tape.
(e) Allows practitioners of alternative medicines such as homeopathy and ayurveda to practice
allopathy after completing a "bridge course".
My take.
4. It's my fond hope that there is a great deal of deliberations in Parliament, over the Bill, to bring out a comprehensive piece of legislation, free of all loopholes! And I wish that the standards of infrastructure and personnel who man the various medical institutions - from the primary health centers to the largest of hospitals - become world class so that the common man is looked after without having to fear about bad handling of cases! May ethics be the cornerstone of the health services in India!!
Tailpiece.
Drove off from my sister's place around a half past 9 and we're at 'The Quarterdeck' by 12, a bit ahead of lunch time!
Mohanachandran's medical bulletin.
"Is improving steadily but no significant change since last sitrep". From K Vipinachandran.
1. Last year, a parliamentary standing committee on health and family welfare tabled a report which exposed the scam-infested Medical Council of India(MCI), the country's medical regulatory body. The report had found that the MCI had become a "club" of influential doctors who perform their roles as regulators(Approving the setting up of medical colleges and monitoring the conduct of doctors) with little care for the basic norms of governance or fear of regulation. Corruption and bribery thrived in approvals to set up medical institutions and further down the line, even in the inspection process.
The Way Out.
2. The Bill that is being introduced in Parliament tomorrow aims to replace the MCI with a new regulator, the 'National Medical Commission(NMC)' which will do away with red tapism over medical institutions and bring about transparency.
A Few Important Features.
3. A few of the important features of the Bill are as follows:-
(a) The government can dictate guidelines for fees up to 40% of the seats in private medical
colleges. This is aimed at giving students relief from the exorbitant fees charged by the
colleges.
(b) Recognised medical institutions don't need the regulator's permission to add more seats or
start PG courses.
(c) Fewer elected members to the new commission.
(d) Earlier, medical colleges required the MCI's approval for the establishment, recognition and
renewal of the yearly permission or recognition of degrees and even, increase the number of
students to be admitted. Under the new bill, the powers of the regulator have been reduced to
establishment and recognition.......less red tape.
(e) Allows practitioners of alternative medicines such as homeopathy and ayurveda to practice
allopathy after completing a "bridge course".
My take.
4. It's my fond hope that there is a great deal of deliberations in Parliament, over the Bill, to bring out a comprehensive piece of legislation, free of all loopholes! And I wish that the standards of infrastructure and personnel who man the various medical institutions - from the primary health centers to the largest of hospitals - become world class so that the common man is looked after without having to fear about bad handling of cases! May ethics be the cornerstone of the health services in India!!
Tailpiece.
Drove off from my sister's place around a half past 9 and we're at 'The Quarterdeck' by 12, a bit ahead of lunch time!
Mohanachandran's medical bulletin.
"Is improving steadily but no significant change since last sitrep". From K Vipinachandran.
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